CONTRACTS Synonyms: 150 Similar and Opposite Words

contracts 1 of 2

noun

plural of contract

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

as in agreements

an arrangement about action to be taken a contract outlining what needed to be done by each person

Synonyms & Similar Words

contracts

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of contract

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

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

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

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of contracts

Noun

Flock has become a controversy in Michigan, with several communities in Oakland County choosing not to renew contracts, including Milford and Madison Heights. — Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 7 Nov. 2026 There’s no doubt that there are wasteful contracts and bloated salaries to be cut, but not even the strictest economizing could absorb that much without serious danger to public health and safety. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 7 Nov. 2026 The challenge is building up the necessary financing and customer contracts to start construction, Park said. — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 7 Nov. 2026 But her campaign faced investigations into financial irregularities and wound up returning campaign contributions from a city contractor who was under investigation and had received millions of dollars in contracts. — Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Nov. 2026 Another boost comes from city labor unions agreeing to new contracts this year that include no pay raises during fiscal 2027 — and in some cases fiscal 2028. — David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Nov. 2026 What readers are saying The comments express strong criticism of Elon Musk and his involvement with government contracts, particularly concerning Starlink. — Meryl Kornfield, Washington Post, 6 Nov. 2026 Companies that took money from the president’s family or got sweetheart government contracts are going to face real scrutiny. — Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 6 Nov. 2026 The board votes on issues ranging from routine contracts to property taxes, and even to school closures. — Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026

Verb

When the muscle contracts or stretches, the distance between the magnets changes. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026 The company also directly contracts with other types of specialists. — Julie Appleby, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026 Amazon does not directly employ workers anywhere in the country and instead contracts its labor force through other firms. — Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026 At birth, ordinary life contracts around a mother and newborn before opening outward again. — Shushan Karapetian, The Conversation, 19 Oct. 2026 The security stance isn't surprising given that SpaceX also contracts with the US government and military. — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 6 Oct. 2026 That’s about $1,000 cheaper than its current lineup, and also the company’s first-ever foldable device that contracts to roughly half its size. — Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026 Meet the man saving Nashville’s sick foxes Florida contracts professional python hunters. — Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2026 Homer Glen contracts with the Will County sheriff for its police services. — Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 10 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for contracts

Noun

Each piece is made to be worn, lived-in, and carried forward with lifetime guarantees that ensure your purchase becomes a family heirloom.

— Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 12 Nov. 2026
Russia has long threatened retaliatory action against an expansion of NATO's eastern flank and has previously demanded guarantees that Ukraine will never be allowed to join the alliance.

— Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 11 Nov. 2026

Definition of guarantees

Noun

The company had $36 billion in off-balance-sheet AI cloud agreements, or backstops, for neoclouds, according to its last quarterly financial filing in July.

— Michelle Fox, CNBC, 13 Nov. 2026
Advances in satellite imagery, remote sensors, and data analytics can increase transparency and make compliance with arms control agreements more observable.

— Pedro Sánchez, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2026

Definition of agreements

Verb

So that’s where the expectation gap gets bigger and bigger, because what the worker needs and what the operation needs are different.

— Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 13 Nov. 2026
Building confidence for its younger roster and finalizing different rotations will be essential for the Horned Frogs as the schedule gets tougher at the end of this month with two games against Power Four conference opponents.

— Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Nov. 2026

Definition of gets

Verb

When inflation is running over 9%, the real value of wages shrinks rapidly, causing severe strain on household budgets.

— Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 11 Nov. 2026
Instead of large backlit zones lighting up behind the panel to make the display glow, mini-LED technology shrinks the backlighting zones down to just a few millimeters across.

— Brian Westover, PC Magazine, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of shrinks

Verb

The union bargains with the Chicago Parking Association, which represents the more than a dozen private parking companies that employ the parking garage attendants, porters and customer service representatives represented by Local 727.

— Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 7 Nov. 2026
The union usually bargains in the same year as performers’ union SAG-AFTRA and directors’ union the Directors Guild of America.

— Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 6 Apr. 2026

Definition of bargains

Noun

Residents have spoken at meetings, both in Fort Worth and elsewhere, about concerns that cities might push deals through despite opposition.

— Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Nov. 2026
Amid a recent string of high-dollar deals, sales of Orange County single-family homes priced at $30 million or more climbed about 50% year over year, according to Compass data cited by The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the listing.

— Sandra Barrera, Oc Register, 12 Nov. 2026

Definition of deals

Noun

Washington has supplemented these multilateral initiatives with bilateral defense production agreements, including pacts with Australia, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan to partner on critical defense systems, missile production, and shipbuilding.

— Sam Mullins, Foreign Affairs, 28 Oct. 2026
Under the co-exclusive pacts, all five seasons of Orphan Black are now available to stream on HBO Max and Peacock.

— Denise Petski, Deadline, 19 Oct. 2026