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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to get
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 to shrink
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 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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of contract
Joe Guillen, Axios, 9 Apr. 2025
The best-case scenario over the next 12 months: Real GDP contracts by 0.2 percentage points, employment shrinks by 0.1% and inflation ticks up by 0.2 percentage points.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 9 Apr. 2025
The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
Inflation typically eases when the economy contracts.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contract
Noun
Share of pending home sales that fell out of contract
Monthly; January 2017 to January 2025
A line chart showing the share of pending home sales that fell through from January 2017 to January 2025 in the Detroit metro area.
—Joe Guillen, Axios, 9 Apr. 2025
The best-case scenario over the next 12 months: Real GDP contracts by 0.2 percentage points, employment shrinks by 0.1% and inflation ticks up by 0.2 percentage points.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
Deloitte has been contracted to assess fair-market value of those deals.
—The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
Inflation typically eases when the economy contracts.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contract
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contract
Noun
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Sony Pictures Television, where both Ning and Moore are under overall deals, will produce.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
10 Apr. 2025
-
The Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon TV series originated a couple of years ago when Sony regained the rights to the books through a first-look deal with Vertigo and tapped Ning to adapt it as part of an overall deal.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
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So there’s a mutual agreement between the two, or mutual benefits, that are quite tolerable—or even pleasurable.—
Mark Holgate,
Vogue,
15 Apr. 2025
-
The agency’s chief financial officer, chief of staff, and chief risk officer are reportedly resigning over the agreement as well.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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This refreshing serum gets its tingle from peppermint and tea tree, which works with caffeine to invigorate the scalp and maximize the absorption of the formula’s peptides.—
Emily Orofino,
Vogue,
14 Apr. 2025
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Buttery, flaky croissants peak through and get nice and toasty in the oven.—
Jasmine Smith,
Southern Living,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Like Wells, many business owners are thinking of pulling back: perhaps shrink the store's selection so there's less to ship, freeze hiring, pause advertising or developing new products — stop growing and go into survival mode.—
Alina Selyukh,
NPR,
7 Apr. 2025
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If the company stumbles—or worse, goes bust—your deferred cash could shrink or vanish.—
Anatoly Iofe,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The song is deliberately compressed to sound like a Phil Spector track, and a video John made for the Gilbert O’Sullivan Show in 1973 features a rare cameo from Bernie mimicking Ray Cooper on bells.—
Shana Naomi Krochmal,
Vulture,
4 Apr. 2025
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Many of them focus on radically new technologies for heating and compressing plasmas, or fusing unusual combinations of isotopes.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
1 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The union said it, along with the Alliance of Health Care Unions, will begin bargaining for a separate group of 60,000 workers in May.—
Annika Merrilees,
Sacramento Bee,
12 Mar. 2025
-
In New York State, public employees have the right to organize and bargain collectively for wages and benefits and working conditions.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
12 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Past performance is no guarantee of future performance.—
Vincent Gregoire,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
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But there are no guarantees that deals will be struck by the time shipments arrive at U.S. ports.—
Lori Ann LaRocco,
CNBC,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
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As part of the pact, Korine will also serve on the jury at Runway’s AI Film Festival that will take place at New York’s Alice Tully Hall and L.A.’s The Broad Stage Theater this June.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2025
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That came after the British government’s rejection, on April 1, of an attempt by Europe to make London’s participation in a defense pact conditional on its readiness to allow EU fishing boats into British waters.—
Colette Davidson,
Christian Science Monitor,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contract.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contract. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.
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