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
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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
Reuters, NBC news, 10 Jan. 2026
The contracts mostly were for time-sensitive disaster response work.
—Karen Brooks Harper, Dallas Morning News, 10 Jan. 2026
And the Heat do have the contracts that would match in a trade.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 10 Jan. 2026
Between now and then, the Canadiens need to ensure that group continues to gain playoff experience while also ensuring the right mix of veterans and young players surrounding the core on reasonable contracts.
—Max Bultman, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Leroux deliberately withheld the designer sunglasses and luxury watches, introducing them gradually as the characters aged into sponsorship deals and seven-figure contracts.
—Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
The new law authorizes the Illinois Commerce Commission to sign long-term contracts and allows for funding of pilot programs for geothermal energy networks.
—Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
Diamantis was found guilty by a federal jury after a first trial in October of taking payoffs for steering school construction contracts.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 9 Jan. 2026
Those on nine-month contracts must devote 480 hours to instruction — which can include things like lab work, clinical work and internships in addition to lecture time — over the course of the contract.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Nov. 2025
Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
An adult who contracts hepatitis B has a 95% chance of clearing the virus.
—Jake Scott, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2026
Luszczyszyn’s model gives both Byfield’s and Beniers’ contracts better percentage chances of bringing positive value to their teams.
—Peter Baugh, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
Earlier this year, the company extended its betting menu to sports outcomes, with people able to buy binary yes/no event contracts on whether a team will win a game or a player will win an award.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 1 Jan. 2026
Star contracts its police services out to the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, while firefighting and emergency medical services in the city are operated and funded through a separate taxing entity, the Star Fire Protection District.
—Rose Evans, Idaho Statesman, 29 Dec. 2025
An adult who contracts hepatitis B has a 95% chance of clearing the virus.
—Jake Scott, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025
CoreCivic, one of the main companies that contracts with ICE to operate immigration detention centers, is headquartered in Nashville.
—Reuters, NBC news, 6 Nov. 2025
Anyone who contracts the illness should seek medical attention and get treated with antibiotics sooner than later, according to the health department.
—Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 4 Nov. 2025
Noun
Israeli defense exports rose 13% last year, with major contracts signed for Israeli defense technology including its advanced multi-layered aerial defense systems.
—Reuters, NBC news, 10 Jan. 2026
The contracts mostly were for time-sensitive disaster response work.
—Karen Brooks Harper, Dallas Morning News, 10 Jan. 2026
And the Heat do have the contracts that would match in a trade.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 10 Jan. 2026
Between now and then, the Canadiens need to ensure that group continues to gain playoff experience while also ensuring the right mix of veterans and young players surrounding the core on reasonable contracts.
—Max Bultman, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Leroux deliberately withheld the designer sunglasses and luxury watches, introducing them gradually as the characters aged into sponsorship deals and seven-figure contracts.
—Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
The new law authorizes the Illinois Commerce Commission to sign long-term contracts and allows for funding of pilot programs for geothermal energy networks.
—Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
Diamantis was found guilty by a federal jury after a first trial in October of taking payoffs for steering school construction contracts.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 9 Jan. 2026
Those on nine-month contracts must devote 480 hours to instruction — which can include things like lab work, clinical work and internships in addition to lecture time — over the course of the contract.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Nov. 2025
Verb
The downstream consequences of the advisory committee’s decision cannot be ignored; adding public healthcare coverage for anyone who contracts such diseases will be necessary, since more cases of these diseases are certain to occur.
—Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
An adult who contracts hepatitis B has a 95% chance of clearing the virus.
—Jake Scott, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2026
Luszczyszyn’s model gives both Byfield’s and Beniers’ contracts better percentage chances of bringing positive value to their teams.
—Peter Baugh, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
Earlier this year, the company extended its betting menu to sports outcomes, with people able to buy binary yes/no event contracts on whether a team will win a game or a player will win an award.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 1 Jan. 2026
Star contracts its police services out to the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, while firefighting and emergency medical services in the city are operated and funded through a separate taxing entity, the Star Fire Protection District.
—Rose Evans, Idaho Statesman, 29 Dec. 2025
An adult who contracts hepatitis B has a 95% chance of clearing the virus.
—Jake Scott, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025
CoreCivic, one of the main companies that contracts with ICE to operate immigration detention centers, is headquartered in Nashville.
—Reuters, NBC news, 6 Nov. 2025
Anyone who contracts the illness should seek medical attention and get treated with antibiotics sooner than later, according to the health department.
—Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 4 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contracts
Noun
-
No guarantees are made with regards to results or financial gain.—
Jacob Camenker,
USA Today,
9 Nov. 2025
-
The Phillies' qualifying offer guarantees that the team will receive compensation in the scenario that Schwarber signs elsewhere.—
Shaun McAvoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Phelps was also lauded for expanding NASCAR's international footprint, securing long-term media rights and charter agreements, and building a leadership team that is focused on building the future of stock car racing with fan experience at its core.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The two countries signed dozens of bilateral agreements, including in a 20-year cooperation deal to repair and overhaul Venezuelan refineries and enhance military relations.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
While not everyone gets their wishes, those with no interest in taking on the deceptive — and challenging — role of a Traitor likely won't be chosen.—
Jordana Comiter,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Ole Miss gets one more possession, starting at its 31, with 55 seconds left in the first half.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
This is tied to a low‑hire, low‑fire labor market, the rapid automation of entry‑level roles, and a tech industry whose workforce is getting older as Gen Z’s presence shrinks.—
Ashley Lutz,
Fortune,
3 Jan. 2026
-
Antarctic Ozone hole shrinks The ozone hole over Antarctica has shrunk to its fifth-smallest size in more than three decades, according to NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).—
Solcyré Burga,
Time,
26 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The Cosmic Pathway compresses 13 billion years of history into a single 360-foot-long ramp.—
Iona Brannon,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The new system compresses that capability into a device spanning just a few square centimeters, without sacrificing power, pulse duration, or bandwidth.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Act fast to shop Amazon’s current hottest deals because prices aren’t guaranteed to last through the month.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Keep scrolling to check out more of the best Le Creuset deals happening at Amazon.—
Isabel Garcia,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Many of the massive overall pacts made that year with top talent have since been succeeded by first-look pacts, which reflect the current economic realities by lowering the studios’ financial commitment while giving creators and producers more flexibility.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
11 Dec. 2025
-
In its final outing, the show’s central characters Damini, Umang, Anjana and Siddhi return with what the streamer describes as the mother of all pacts.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
5 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Australian Geographic reports that the bird catches prey midair during hunting.—
Marina Watts,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Despite these close ties, the identity of the murderer catches her completely by surprise.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contracts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contracts. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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