1
as in guarantees
a formal agreement to fulfill an obligation
accused her of breaking their contract by not completing the decorating job on budget
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in agreements
an arrangement about action to be taken
a contract outlining what needed to be done by each person
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in gets
to become affected with (a disease or disorder)
before vaccines were invented, people lived in fear of contracting polio
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shrinks
to become smaller in size or volume through the drawing together of particles of matter
metal contracts at low temperatures
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in compresses
to reduce in size or volume by or as if by pressing parts or members together
contract the calf muscles in your legs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in covenants
to come to an arrangement as to a course of action
the farmer contracted for delivery of the hay by the first of July
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of contracts
Heather Hollingsworth, Chicago Tribune, 21 Feb. 2026
Others leave secure jobs in the Middle East for contracts promising thousands of dollars and the possibility of Russian citizenship after a year on the frontlines.
—Emmanuel Igunza, NPR, 21 Feb. 2026
Finally, its now-inert core contracts down to form a white dwarf, while the prior ejecta get heated up and ionized, creating a planetary nebula.
—Big Think, 20 Feb. 2026
The Heat has one of the league’s highest success rates in player development, but in the past few years, two-way contracts with another lethal shooter (Cole Swider) and another McDonald’s All American (Josh Christopher) did not materialize into anything lasting.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2026
Emails that had sensitive employment contracts.
—Pat Saperstein, Variety, 20 Feb. 2026
Then modernize infrastructure by ensuring major contracts, especially TxDOT’s, deliver projects on time, on budget, and ahead of demand.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
When a league contracts under rising load, hosting risk increases—there is no neutral interpretation.
—Michael Fealey, Sportico.com, 14 Feb. 2026
All New England Patriots contracts went to $0.
—Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 14 Feb. 2026
Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 13 Feb. 2026
The company contracts with insurers and serves as a referral partner for health systems whose patients need psychiatric care.
—Mario Aguilar, STAT, 12 Feb. 2026
Remove the financial floor and the industry contracts permanently.
—Joseph M. Singer, Deadline, 6 Feb. 2026
Currently, the village contracts with MyPestCrew to provide the program’s services.
—Jessi Virtusio, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026
The release said that at the time of his arrest, the man was employed as a bus driver with a company that contracts with local schools.
—Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 23 Jan. 2026
Unlike Saratoga, which contracts with Santa Clara County for sheriff’s and fire services, Gilroy has its own police and fire departments.
—Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 14 Jan. 2026
The first of the two alleged schemes accuses Herbert of soliciting at least $15,000 from an unnamed security company executive in exchange for pressuring city officials to award the company contracts with the city, including for services at NYCHA housing projects.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 13 Jan. 2026
Nonprofits are bracing for cuts to the city contracts their organizations depend on, and even the city’s public safety agencies could face further mandates from Broadnax to cut costs as the manager attempts to balance delivering high-cost, essential services amid shrinking revenues.
—Austin American Statesman, 12 Jan. 2026
Noun
Those contracts allow a lot of secrecy and for DHS to move quickly without following the usual processes and safeguards, said Charles Tiefer, a professor emeritus of law at the University of Baltimore Law School.
—Heather Hollingsworth, Chicago Tribune, 21 Feb. 2026
Others leave secure jobs in the Middle East for contracts promising thousands of dollars and the possibility of Russian citizenship after a year on the frontlines.
—Emmanuel Igunza, NPR, 21 Feb. 2026
Finally, its now-inert core contracts down to form a white dwarf, while the prior ejecta get heated up and ionized, creating a planetary nebula.
—Big Think, 20 Feb. 2026
The Heat has one of the league’s highest success rates in player development, but in the past few years, two-way contracts with another lethal shooter (Cole Swider) and another McDonald’s All American (Josh Christopher) did not materialize into anything lasting.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2026
Emails that had sensitive employment contracts.
—Pat Saperstein, Variety, 20 Feb. 2026
Then modernize infrastructure by ensuring major contracts, especially TxDOT’s, deliver projects on time, on budget, and ahead of demand.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
When a league contracts under rising load, hosting risk increases—there is no neutral interpretation.
—Michael Fealey, Sportico.com, 14 Feb. 2026
All New England Patriots contracts went to $0.
—Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 14 Feb. 2026
Verb
The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors in late January approved two contracts with CVR Associates, which contracts with public housing authorities across the nation.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 13 Feb. 2026
The company contracts with insurers and serves as a referral partner for health systems whose patients need psychiatric care.
—Mario Aguilar, STAT, 12 Feb. 2026
Remove the financial floor and the industry contracts permanently.
—Joseph M. Singer, Deadline, 6 Feb. 2026
Currently, the village contracts with MyPestCrew to provide the program’s services.
—Jessi Virtusio, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026
The release said that at the time of his arrest, the man was employed as a bus driver with a company that contracts with local schools.
—Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 23 Jan. 2026
Unlike Saratoga, which contracts with Santa Clara County for sheriff’s and fire services, Gilroy has its own police and fire departments.
—Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 14 Jan. 2026
The first of the two alleged schemes accuses Herbert of soliciting at least $15,000 from an unnamed security company executive in exchange for pressuring city officials to award the company contracts with the city, including for services at NYCHA housing projects.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 13 Jan. 2026
Nonprofits are bracing for cuts to the city contracts their organizations depend on, and even the city’s public safety agencies could face further mandates from Broadnax to cut costs as the manager attempts to balance delivering high-cost, essential services amid shrinking revenues.
—Austin American Statesman, 12 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contracts
Noun
-
Ukraine sensibly sees firm security guarantees as the necessary starting point to ensure that any territorial concessions don’t become a foothold from which Russia can simply resume its attack.—
Elizabeth Shackelford,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Feb. 2026
-
But hitting arbitrary targets has never been the point of the ratings game; what really matters in Milan is that NBC is clearing all its guarantees to advertisers.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Laws banning cooperative agreements with ICE were signed earlier this month in New Mexico and took effect last month in Maine.—
David A. Lieb,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
-
The bill does not bar unions and the CSU from including contingency clauses in future labor agreements, which is how the university system was able to withhold Teamsters Local 2010’s raises last year.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
If the justices agree to hear oral arguments, the 90-day clock gets re-set, possibly pushing a final decision back to as late as October.—
Rob Nikolewski,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Feb. 2026
-
For its opening, the Costa Mesa location is offering a choice deal where $5 gets you two slices and a beverage.—
Brock Keeling,
Oc Register,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Not Carolyn, who shrinks even from Calvin’s attempt to document her elegant outfit — John’s button-down shirt tucked into a black skirt, a CBK classic — with a Polaroid.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
20 Feb. 2026
-
If other states mint new millionaires faster—through a tech boom (in California), an energy boom (in Texas), or real-estate inflation (in Florida)—New York’s slice shrinks regardless of migration.—
Christopher Marquis,
Time,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In operation, the actuator compresses and holds the Ni-Ti tubes, causing the material to heat up.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Their terahertz microscope compresses long terahertz waves into a microscopic spot.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Supporters of the bill said residents should know the details of data center deals, given the potential impacts, citing water use and power demand.—
Makenzie Huber,
States Newsroom,
19 Feb. 2026
-
The results of those marketing and licensing deals have been apparent throughout the men’s hockey tournament, now down to its four semifinalists.—
Eben Novy-Williams,
Sportico.com,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
About 800 entities have task force pacts, granting the most expansive authority.—
David A. Lieb,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
-
During the same period, New Delhi finalized pacts with Britain, New Zealand and Oman.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
So, this is about when undeniable attraction catches you off guard, but also the enormous consequences of following that urge and that feeling, and the consequences of that for the families around you, however innocent your intent is.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Try the Storm Chaser, which sends you into a zero-gravity fall, catches you in a funnel, then discards you into a pool below.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contracts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contracts. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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