Synonyms of contracts

contracts 1 of 2

noun

plural of contract

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

• guarantees
• deals
• assurances
• vows
• pledges
• warranties
• covenants
• bonds
• treaties
• guaranties
• sureties
• pacts
• oaths
• deposits
• seals
• conventions
• bargains
• insurances
• compacts
• securities
• words
• concordats
• accords
• pawns
• troths
• bails

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

• agreements
• pacts
• conventions
• settlements
• promises
• understandings
• deals
• covenants
• compacts
• bargains
• treaties
• accords
• pledges
• associations
• dispositions
• charters
• partnerships
• binders
• approvals
• alliances
• acceptances
• consents
• leagues
• ententes
• assents
• concurrences
• entente cordiales
• OKs

contracts

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of contract

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

• gets
• catches
• comes down (with)
• goes down (with)
• takes
• sickens (with)
• succumbs (to)
• breaks out (with)
• dies (from)
• fails
• weakens
• wastes (away)
• sinks
• worsens
• withers
• languishes
• wilts

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• gains
• comes back
• recovers
• heals
• shakes (off)
• recovers (from)
• mends
• snaps back
• recoups
• rallies
• rebounds
• recuperates

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

• shrinks
• compresses
• constricts
• decreases
• collapses
• condenses
• flattens
• withdraws
• diminishes
• retreats
• shrivels
• dries up
• withers
• deflates
• lessens
• recedes
• dwindles
• wilts
• abates

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• expands
• increases
• swells
• grows
• accumulates
• balloons
• snowballs
• inflates
• puffs (up)
• balloons

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

• compresses
• squeezes
• condenses
• compacts
• narrows (down)
• packs
• consolidates
• telescopes
• collapses
• constringes
• capsules
• constricts
• capsulizes
• simplifies
• crams
• jams
• shortens
• boils down
• decreases
• jam-packs
• curtails
• abridges
• abbreviates
• shrinks
• crowds
• downsizes
• streamlines
• concentrates
• diminishes
• lessens

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• expands
• opens
• dilates
• decompresses
• outspreads
• disperses
• outstretches
• dissipates
• scatters
• swells
• inflates
• distends

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

• covenants
• bargains
• agrees
• comes to terms
• strikes a bargain
• arranges
• comes around
• underwrites
• comes round
• subscribes
• settles

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• disagrees
• differs
• dissents
• objects
• cancels
• revokes
• disputes
• contests
• argues
• reneges

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of contracts

Noun

The council moved that bureau forward last year, and a spokesperson for the Housing Department said that seven positions have been hired within the bureau handling contracts and data oversight. — Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026

On Monday, members of DeFlock DC, a grassroots group dedicated to ending all contracts between the Metropolitan Police Department and Flock, explained to the group how these controversial cameras work and where they are located throughout the city. — Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 22 Aug. 2026

Scrutinizing the Ellisons, including Oracle’s business built on data, surveillance technology and government contracts, and the serious threat to editorial freedom and the loss of a livelihood for thousands of families, is fair and necessary. — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 22 Aug. 2026

Luis — the Big East Player of the Year in 2024-25 — did not play college basketball last season after going undrafted in the 2025 NBA Draft, instead signing two NBA contracts (but not appearing in a professional game). — Devon Henderson, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026

Many leaders of Florida colleges and public agencies have contracts requiring they be paid the statutory maximum of 20 weeks of severance if they are fired for convenience. — Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 22 Aug. 2026

Musk’s SpaceX received $38 billion in federal contracts in return. — Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Aug. 2026

With so many consumers locked into 12- or 24-month smartphone contracts that end just as the next iPhone hits retail shelves, carriers’ PR campaigns around the iPhone help bring customers back for another contract. — Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026

While the district took a series of cost-cutting steps — including freezing spending on supplies, hiring and most new contracts, as well as laying off employees — successive budget updates showed the financial hole continuing to deepen. — Chaewon Chung august 16, Sacbee.com, 16 Aug. 2026

Verb

Westlake contracts with the City of Keller for police services. — Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Aug. 2026

Lyft, which contracts drivers, didn’t immediately return a request for comment sent to the company’s media email address. — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026

Event contracts revenue came in at $156 million in the second quarter, according to Robinhood. — Ananya Chetia, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026

The department is looking to buy eight Skydio X10 drones from Axon, the same company the department contracts with to surveil cars in the city. — Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 1 Aug. 2026

This means that immunity against other threats such as the common cold, flu or coronavirus can disappear if a person contracts measles without any existing immunity. — Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 July 2026

On Friday, an employee of the Geo Group, which contracts with ICE, shot a protestor outside the Aurora immigration detention center. — Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 20 July 2026

Kansas City has not had its own jail since 2009 and currently contracts out with other counties to hold detainees. — Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 14 July 2026

Is there medical help available if one contracts cyclosporiasis? — Joseph Hernandez, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 July 2026