CONTRACTED Synonyms: 157 Similar and Opposite Words

contracted 1 of 2

adjective

as in squeezed

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contracted

2 of 2

verb

past tense of contract

as in got

to become affected with (a disease or disorder) before vaccines were invented, people lived in fear of contracting polio

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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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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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

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

Verb

Vibrio, a bacteria found in salt and brackish water, is contracted when wounds are exposed to water containing the bacteria or a person eats contaminated raw or undercooked shellfish. — Eva Flowe october 21, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026 Since then, under mounting price competition from wind and solar, loss of subsidies and community opposition, the industry has contracted. — Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026 Then the tariffs and 51st state mentions began and that number contracted — sharply. — CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026 Two men from France contracted a Florida surrogate and were able to secure parental rights before the boy was even born. — Kimberly Bird, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Oct. 2026 Whenever there’s change, there’s an opportunity for disruption and for margins to be contracted. — Nilay Patel, The Verge, 17 Oct. 2026 For its part, NASA contracted with Orbital (today, Northrop Grumman) and SpaceX to fly commercial resupply service missions. — Robert Z. Pearlman, Space.com, 17 Oct. 2026 The work attracted the attention of Q Studios’ Nick Newhard, who contracted Gray to work on level design for the late ’90s cult classic Blood. — Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 14 Oct. 2026 Its subsidiary, Avologi, manufactures many of the red-light therapy devices that customers reported being pressured to buy inside stores contracted with Mazal Group. — Monika Evstatieva, NPR, 14 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for contracted

Adjective

Tesla says the thrusters are powered by compressed air, meaning the car can replenish its thrust capacity on-the-go.

— Byron Hurd, The Drive, 16 Oct. 2026
The floor is made from compressed leather scraps produced during the brand’s manufacturing process.

— Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of compressed

Verb

To add to it, backup running back Tyler Goodson got his most burn as a Cowboy, rushing for 38 yards on 10 carries.

— Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026
It's got a set of pedals, as well as a twist-throttle on the right bar, controlling a 750-W nominal, 1,310-W peak, 85-Nm (63-lb-ft) electric motor between the rear wheels.

— Loz Blain October 26, New Atlas, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of got

Verb

The number of congressional battlegrounds nationwide has shrunk with gerrymandering and political polarization, making the district one of about two dozen races that will decide the House majority.

— Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Its gross domestic product has shrunk, and its 10 million residents have endured blackouts, food shortages and inflation.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of shrank

Verb

Yet profits have still been squeezed as jet fuel prices surged roughly 90% since the US-Israeli war on Iran began in February, forcing several major carriers to cut earnings forecasts.

— Reuters, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026
Meanwhile, free cash flow at another budget carrier, JetBlue Airways, remains severely squeezed by elevated jet fuel prices.

— , CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of squeezed

Verb

For decades, Democrats and Republicans alike have agreed that the terrorists in Tehran, who have been killing Americans for 47 years, cannot be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
Moscow and Beijing last week have agreed to expand freight traffic along Arctic shipping corridors, increase services between their ports and deepen cooperation on building polar vessels.

— Lee Ying Shan,Matthew Tan, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of agreed

Adjective

The play is essentially a condensed version of Jaku’s memoir, but there’s one big difference.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
The blitz with Jones was an example of Joseph taking advantage of a defensive back’s versatility and athleticism to set the edge in the more condensed real estate of the red zone.

— Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of condensed

Verb

Her singing caught the attention of Abboud Saadi, the bassist for Lebanon’s most famous singer, Fairuz, who invited her to a recording session with Bypass Studio owner Ziad Rahbani.

— Shy Clara Thompson, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026
Following her death, Trail dismembered Loofe’s body to avoid getting caught.

— Samantha Bergeson, Time, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of caught

Verb

Telecom stocks — Shares of AT & T and T-Mobile fell more than 5% each, while Verizon shares decreased 1% on a Bloomberg News report that SpaceX is in private talks to lease 80,000 cell towers.

— Paulina Likos, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
As technology has advanced, launch costs have decreased, and satellites have become more efficient, smaller and cheaper to build.

— David Zamora, Space.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of decreased

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contract

contracted

contracted (for)

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“Contracted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contracted. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of contracted

adjective

verb

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