as in squeezed
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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
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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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of contracted
Zach Wichter, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
Monroe’s wife, Shawna Stewart, confirmed the news with Complex, telling the outlet that the star contracted meningitis 18 months ago while filming in Las Vegas.
—Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
The college also contracted with TERRA Engineering to conduct a tree inventory, analyze tree and soil conditions, and generate a map showing each tree on campus.
—Susan Degrane, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
His drive to eliminate Argentina’s chronic inflation has stalled, unemployment has climbed and the economy has contracted.
—ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
The universal birth dose recommendation went into effect in 1991, leading to a dramatic reduction in the number of babies who contracted hepatitis B during infancy.
—Helen Branswell, STAT, 27 Apr. 2026
On Monday, landscapers contracted by the Minnesota Department of Transportation will begin removing vegetation and trellises, spray herbicide to kill remaining plants and prepare the soil for replanting.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 24 Apr. 2026
According to the transportation plan, KC2026 has contracted 215 motorcoach buses, each seating about 53 people, to help transport fans throughout the region.
—Taylor Haught, Kansas City Star, 21 Apr. 2026
SpaceX is contracted to carry NEO Surveyor to orbit on a Falcon 9 in 2027.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
Lubner said that as the industry contracted, many airlines pulled out of smaller, less profitable airports, leaving those communities disconnected.
—Zach Wichter, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
Monroe’s wife, Shawna Stewart, confirmed the news with Complex, telling the outlet that the star contracted meningitis 18 months ago while filming in Las Vegas.
—Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
The college also contracted with TERRA Engineering to conduct a tree inventory, analyze tree and soil conditions, and generate a map showing each tree on campus.
—Susan Degrane, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
His drive to eliminate Argentina’s chronic inflation has stalled, unemployment has climbed and the economy has contracted.
—ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
The universal birth dose recommendation went into effect in 1991, leading to a dramatic reduction in the number of babies who contracted hepatitis B during infancy.
—Helen Branswell, STAT, 27 Apr. 2026
On Monday, landscapers contracted by the Minnesota Department of Transportation will begin removing vegetation and trellises, spray herbicide to kill remaining plants and prepare the soil for replanting.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 24 Apr. 2026
According to the transportation plan, KC2026 has contracted 215 motorcoach buses, each seating about 53 people, to help transport fans throughout the region.
—Taylor Haught, Kansas City Star, 21 Apr. 2026
SpaceX is contracted to carry NEO Surveyor to orbit on a Falcon 9 in 2027.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contracted
Verb
-
Luke Kornet got the Game 3 start against the Trail Blazers in Wembanyama’s absence, finishing with 14 points and 10 rebounds.—
Anne M. Peterson,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Onyemata was one of the free-agent signings the Jets got the most praise for — a rock-solid veteran defensive tackle who can help in both the run and pass game.—
Zack Rosenblatt,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Sparks worked on building their 2026 roster long before the WNBA’s compressed free agency period tipped off.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The attached marathon seasons, compressed offseasons and challenging schedules that came with that stature also included generally being relegated to the posterior of the draft.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Traditional paths to entry-level work, especially in tech, are already being squeezed as companies automate routine work.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Margins on low-cost airlines are always tight, and fuel is an outsized cost which means they’re already being squeezed hard by the energy shock.—
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In exchange for his guilty plea, the court agreed to give Gavin 30 years to life in prison at his sentencing on May 20, said Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
In more validation of Amazon’s chip strategy, Meta said Friday its agreed to deploy at least tens of millions of Graviton cores.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Gonzales drove a first-pitch slider to left, and Church jumped and caught the ball above the top of the 6-foot wall, 373 feet from home plate.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
-
That’s what kept his head on straight in the trenches, even when his socks got bogged down with mud and soldiers flanked on either side of him caught shrapnel or pneumonia.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Ben Clemens at FanGraphs measured the change, relative to the 2025 regular season, and found that the zone has shrunk at the top of the zone and on the edges of the plate.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Can’t one or two of the others on that page be shrunk a little to accommodate it?—
Ticked Off,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The seven food groups of the National Food Guide were condensed to four by combining all fruits and vegetables—regardless of color or form—into one group.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Some responses are paraphrased for clarity or condensed for brevity.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Palestinian voter turnout has gradually decreased over the past elections.—
SAM METZ,
Arkansas Online,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The issue has broad effects, affecting not just the victim but families, co-workers and community while harming mental and physical health, causing decreased productivity and decreasing one’s quality of life.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contracted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contracted. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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