as in squeezed
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
1
as in got
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 compressed
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 condensed
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 agreed
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 contracted
Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 16 June 2026
Standing nearly 27 feet tall and about 13 feet wide, Dragon capsules can carry up to seven astronauts into orbit, though most of SpaceX's Crew missions, which are contracted with NASA, feature a contingent of four.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 16 June 2026
Some species of Vibrio, including the one Joziah contracted, can cause severe and life-threatening infections, per the Centers for Disease Control.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 16 June 2026
There are also some economic warning signs from China, where retail sales marked their first drop in over three years, while other indicators also contracted in May.
—Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 16 June 2026
Yet somewhere, invisibly, the horizon had contracted.
—Adam Kirsch, The Atlantic, 15 June 2026
But his father contracted pneumonia in 2011, and after two decades in prison, his body was too weak to fight it.
—Yumi Asada, CNN Money, 13 June 2026
Inside this simplified cosmos, the bright region repeatedly expanded and contracted.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 13 June 2026
Millions more were wasted because the government was contracted to pay the cost of meals for the camp’s maximum population of 5,000, even when the number of detainees there dropped to around 1,600, the report said.
—Michael Biesecker, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
Verb
The American doctor who contracted Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has returned to the United States.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 16 June 2026
Standing nearly 27 feet tall and about 13 feet wide, Dragon capsules can carry up to seven astronauts into orbit, though most of SpaceX's Crew missions, which are contracted with NASA, feature a contingent of four.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 16 June 2026
Some species of Vibrio, including the one Joziah contracted, can cause severe and life-threatening infections, per the Centers for Disease Control.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 16 June 2026
There are also some economic warning signs from China, where retail sales marked their first drop in over three years, while other indicators also contracted in May.
—Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 16 June 2026
Yet somewhere, invisibly, the horizon had contracted.
—Adam Kirsch, The Atlantic, 15 June 2026
But his father contracted pneumonia in 2011, and after two decades in prison, his body was too weak to fight it.
—Yumi Asada, CNN Money, 13 June 2026
Inside this simplified cosmos, the bright region repeatedly expanded and contracted.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 13 June 2026
Millions more were wasted because the government was contracted to pay the cost of meals for the camp’s maximum population of 5,000, even when the number of detainees there dropped to around 1,600, the report said.
—Michael Biesecker, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contracted
Adjective
-
Cities and counties with little experience as real-estate developers were suddenly tasked with managing complex acquisitions and renovations under compressed timelines.—
Michele Steeb,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
-
The tabs, known as Tablì, are made of compressed ground coffee and can only be used with a Lavazza Tablì coffee machine.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
In North Texas’ first World Cup match since 1994, Japan got a late equalizer to battle to a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands on Sunday at AT&T Stadium.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 June 2026
-
As the clock ticked down, Fox missed a 3-pointer and the Knicks got the rebound.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
That number shrank to 9,643 the next year and 2,126 in 1992, before sinking to as few as a few dozen per year in the early 2000s.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
-
The price fell because the crisis-risk premium shrank, or the baseline supply-and-demand conditions improved, or both.—
George Calhoun,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
Profits are squeezed because of the RAM crisis and Samsung has responded with price increases and weaker deals.—
Janhoi McGregor,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
-
As the fans beyond it jumped to their feet with their hands raised, Reynolds reached over and squeezed his glove shut around what would have been the go-ahead home run.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
Willows officials said Grant Carmon, board chair, agreed to the meeting; county and sheriff’s officials would not agree to meet.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
12 June 2026
-
The president’s threats followed back-and-forth strikes this week that had rendered a temporary ceasefire agreed to in early April all but meaningless.—
Aamer Madhani,
Fortune,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
The gallery presents a condensed history of blue-and-white ceramics globally in dishes, starting in the Middle East with a 9th century Iraqi piece.—
Stephanie Shih
June 17,
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
-
The center describes its three-week immersion as a way to develop, in a condensed window, the practices and behaviors that might otherwise take years to build through outpatient therapy alone.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
The excitement has also caught the attention of tourists.—
Hannah Kliger,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
-
If caught in a rip current, remain calm.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
Crime in the 21207 zip code area has decreased within the last year, according to data from the Baltimore County Public Safety Data Dashboard.—
CBS Baltimore Staff,
CBS News,
14 June 2026
-
Parents should quickly seek medical care for an infant who has difficulty swallowing, poor feeding, loss of head control or decreased facial expression, the CDC said.—
Melody Petersen,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contracted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contracted. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
