as in compression
the act or process of reducing the size or volume of something by or as if by pressing
most substances undergo contraction when cooled
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of contraction
These tests evaluated how the hardware, seals, and fluid flow handle extreme thermal contraction and the intense temperature differences between the freezing propellant and the coupler materials.
—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
30 June 2026
Rapid oscillations trigger muscle contractions that can indirectly support lymph movement.
—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
30 June 2026
Sterile syringe programs are associated with a 50% decrease in HIV and Hepatitis C contraction among people who inject drugs, a 2024 CDC study reported.
—
Maya Henry,
Oklahoma Watch,
30 June 2026
On a 0 to 100 scale, a reading above 50 reflects expansion, while below 50 indicates contraction.
—
ABC News,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for contraction
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
30 June 2026
Rapid oscillations trigger muscle contractions that can indirectly support lymph movement.
—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
30 June 2026
Sterile syringe programs are associated with a 50% decrease in HIV and Hepatitis C contraction among people who inject drugs, a 2024 CDC study reported.
—
Maya Henry,
Oklahoma Watch,
30 June 2026
On a 0 to 100 scale, a reading above 50 reflects expansion, while below 50 indicates contraction.
—
ABC News,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for contraction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contraction
Noun
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Throughout June, The Times verified Ukrainian strikes on oil and gas storage facilities, compression stations and power plants.
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Do not miss the Ashes signature treatment that includes compression, full-body lymphatic feathering, and acupuncture.
Noun
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Matt Hooper’s squeezing of the Styrofoam cup in answer to Shaw’s squeezing of the beer can was something that actually happened.
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So scientists use frequency-dependent squeezing to reduce quantum noise.
Noun
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Three years in, a contracting partner pulled him into a bear hug at a holiday party, tears in his eyes, telling him how much being part of it meant.
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Details remain sketchy, but among the benefits touted by supporters is that the department would enjoy contracting and procurement powers theoretically free from mayoral influence and could put violence interrupters and other CVI workers on the city payroll for the first time.
Noun
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And the notoriously unbreathable material, combined with the stuffy weather, created unsettling clouds of pedal condensation on the shoes’ uppers.
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This new book is basically a condensation and a dumbing down of those ideas.
Noun
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Yes, the program faces an ever-tightening budget squeeze over the next handful of years, according to a report this month from the Social Security fund's trustees.
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That affordability squeeze is reshaping how young Americans think about homeownership itself.
Noun
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The season emphasizes emotional constriction and physical limits, not literal clock time.
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Contrasting her with the meek, mysterious, and passive Anthy, the series examines the constrictions both men and women face via traditional gender roles, with an eye towards gender fluidity that remains radical today.
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Cite this Entry
“Contraction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contraction. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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