contract 1 of 2

noun

ˈkän-ˌtrakt How to pronounce contract (audio)
Definition of contractnext
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

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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

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contract

2 of 2

verb

ˈkän-ˌtrakt How to pronounce contract (audio)
1
as in to get
to become affected with (a disease or disorder) before vaccines were invented, people lived in fear of contracting polio

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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

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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

Synonym Chooser

How is the word contract different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of contract are compress, condense, constrict, deflate, and shrink. While all these words mean "to decrease in bulk or volume," contract applies to a drawing together of surfaces or particles or a reduction of area or length.

caused her muscles to contract

Where would compress be a reasonable alternative to contract?

In some situations, the words compress and contract are roughly equivalent. However, compress implies a pressing into a small compass and definite shape usually against resistance.

compressed cotton into bales

When would condense be a good substitute for contract?

Although the words condense and contract have much in common, condense implies a reducing of something homogeneous to greater compactness without significant loss of content.

condense the essay into a paragraph

When is it sensible to use constrict instead of contract?

The words constrict and contract are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, constrict implies a tightening that reduces diameter.

the throat is constricted by a tight collar

In what contexts can deflate take the place of contract?

While in some cases nearly identical to contract, deflate implies a contracting by reducing the internal pressure of contained air or gas.

deflate the balloon

When might shrink be a better fit than contract?

The synonyms shrink and contract are sometimes interchangeable, but shrink implies a contracting or a loss of material and stresses a falling short of original dimensions.

the sweater will shrink when washed

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 contract
Noun
Reuters — Striking workers at Boeing Defense rejected the company’s latest contract offer on Friday, sending the stoppage toward its seventh week. —Reuters 20 Min Ago, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025 Zilisch will replace Daniel Suarez at Trackhouse in 2026 following his multi-year contract signing. —Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
The chronic phase is developed by one in three people who contract the disease. —Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Sep. 2025 Patients who contracted measles under the age of 2 are the most at risk of developing SSPE. —Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for contract
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contract
  1. deal
  2. agreement
  3. get
  4. shrink
  5. compress
  6. bargain
  7. guarantee
  8. pact
Noun
  • In August, the president announced a deal between the federal government and Nvidia, allowing the American chip producer to sell advanced semiconductors to Chinese buyers in exchange for a 15% cut of the profits.
    — Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Google Flights’ 2025 Travel Trends pinpoint the exact window for deals, pulling and tracking data from multiple airlines and travel agencies.
    — Eve Chen, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
Definition of deal
Noun
  • Leaders have since reached an agreement to de-escalate tensions, temporarily lowering the duties to 30% on the United States’ side and 10% on China’s part.
    — Nino Paoli, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2025
  • This agreement aims to bolster collaboration between the two nations' trillion-dollar tech sectors, enhancing opportunities for businesses and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic.
    — Jarrett Renshaw, USA Today, 14 Sep. 2025
Definition of agreement
Verb
  • The company argues that the traffic which sites do manage to get from users now comes from users who are more engaged and thus more valuable.
    — Andy Meek, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Ahead of the premiere of her new Netflix series, Too Much, written for her by Lena Dunham, the 33-year-old reflects on what got her to this moment.
    — Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 15 Sep. 2025
Definition of get
Verb
  • The window to restructure human systems to operate within planetary boundaries is shrinking.
    — Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Steadily, climate modelers shrank the grid boxes and incorporated more complex effects, such as those of atmospheric dust.
    — Zack Savitsky, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
Definition of shrink
Verb
  • Both Michigan Central and Emergent Campus models compress this learning curve by integrating practical application from day one.
    — Alison Griffin, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • According to Spotify, Bluetooth currently doesn’t provide enough bandwidth to transmit lossless audio, so the signal has to be compressed before being sent.
    — Todd Spangler, Variety, 10 Sep. 2025
Definition of compress
Verb
  • Contenders for the leadership of Brazil’s right wing coalition are already emerging and are bargaining for Bolsonaro’s endorsement for being presidential candidates in the 2026 elections.
    — Adriana Carranca, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Oscar nominee and Lord of the Rings alum Astin will have quite the task ahead of them at the top of next year as SAG-AFTRA returns to the negotiating table with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which collectively bargains on behalf of the major Hollywood studios.
    — Katie Campione, Deadline, 12 Sep. 2025
Definition of bargain
Noun
  • Our dedication to lasting value—a promise embodied in the timeless spirit of every watch—is built via rigorous curation, careful authentication, and an unwavering trust guarantee.
    — Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
  • The federal funds rate has huge influence on a broad range of short-term interest rates and also on something called the Secured Overnight Financing Rate, the cost of borrowing money overnight using Treasury securities as guarantees.
    — Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Definition of guarantee
Noun
  • The Republican and Democratic heads of a US congressional committee for strategic competition with China in July stressed their strong support for AUKUS, amid the review of the deal by Elbridge Colby, a top Pentagon policy official and public critic of the pact.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Next season, the Mavericks icon will be a studio analyst for a new Prime Video show as Amazon begins its 11-year, $20 billion NBA pact.
    — Christian Clark, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2025
Definition of pact

Browse Nearby Words

contrabandists
contract
contracted
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Cite this Entry

“Contract.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contract. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on contract

Nglish: Translation of contract for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about contract

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