1
as in deal
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 agreement
an arrangement about action to be taken
a contract outlining what needed to be done by each person
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to get
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 to shrink
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 to compress
to reduce in size or volume by or as if by pressing parts or members together
contract the calf muscles in your legs
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to bargain
to come to an arrangement as to a course of action
the farmer contracted for delivery of the hay by the first of July
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of contract
Colin Jones, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2025
Under its new contract with ICE, Avelo will operate as a sub-carrier of CSI.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2025
The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
Inflation typically eases when the economy contracts.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contract
Noun
With that signal, the hulking bureaucracy of the U.S. military began to reorient itself, shifting the defense budget, training manuals, weapons contracts, and military strategy to focus on the Pacific theatre.
—Colin Jones, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2025
Under its new contract with ICE, Avelo will operate as a sub-carrier of CSI.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2025
Verb
Deloitte has been contracted to assess fair-market value of those deals.
—The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
Inflation typically eases when the economy contracts.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contract
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contract
Noun
-
The downgrading of the talks comes at a critical time, just days after U.S. President Donald Trump warned that Washington could walk away if there was no progress on a deal soon.—
Elizabeth Piper,
USA Today,
24 Apr. 2025
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Since being announced last April, about half of the films on the list are available now in the U.S. or are coming soon, either through traditional distro deals or bespoke rollouts.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
23 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
So there’s a mutual agreement between the two, or mutual benefits, that are quite tolerable—or even pleasurable.—
Mark Holgate,
Vogue,
15 Apr. 2025
-
The agency’s chief financial officer, chief of staff, and chief risk officer are reportedly resigning over the agreement as well.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Buttery, flaky croissants peak through and get nice and toasty in the oven.—
Jasmine Smith,
Southern Living,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Perry shared a series of photographs of Lucio growing up: at 3 months, 7 months, and a year old, with his hair getting longer and curlier each time, before bringing the now 18-month-old Lucio into the video.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
These sprays shrink the blood vessels in your nasal passages.—
Andrea Muraskin,
NPR,
19 Apr. 2025
-
The number shrank during Italy’s postwar economic boom as residents moved to the mainland for more modern housing — including indoor plumbing, which was lacking in Venice.—
Colleen Barry,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Streaming services compress the audio more vigorously than is common in physical media, which can cause problems with intelligibility.—
Samuel Axon,
ArsTechnica,
25 Apr. 2025
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Treatment for groin strains includes rest, icing, compressing the affected area, and taking pain medications.—
Mark Gurarie,
Health,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The association contends these actions violate state rules requiring public employers to bargain over such matters, infringing on deputies’ rights and the union’s ability to represent them.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
18 Apr. 2025
-
The proposals were aimed at protecting government employees’ ability to collectively bargain amid attacks by the Trump administration, preventing cuts to food stamps and to show support for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Ukraine, respectively.—
Al Weaver,
The Hill,
5 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
There is no magic formula for how to get this right, and there is no guarantee that Trump’s approach will succeed.—
A. Wess Mitchell,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
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As for who might succeed Francis, experts say that since the late pope appointed many cardinals, his successor could be someone who shares his ideas and vision for the church, but there's no guarantee.—
David Chiu,
People.com,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The leaders signed new pacts covering railways, trade, security, and technology, including plans for a Kenyan consulate in Guangzhou.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
-
The company also struck a new distribution pact with DirecTV and expanded its portfolio of sports rights, securing the rights to broadcast the Olympics in Mexico through 2032.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
24 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contract.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contract. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
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