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
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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
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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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The downgrading of the talks comes at a critical time, just days after U.S. President Donald Trump warned that Washington could walk away if there was no progress on a deal soon.—
Elizabeth Piper,
USA Today,
24 Apr. 2025
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So far, Trump has not met with China's president Xi Jinping, the WSJ reported, which will be essential to inking a deal.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
23 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
-
Perry shared a series of photographs of Lucio growing up: at 3 months, 7 months, and a year old, with his hair getting longer and curlier each time, before bringing the now 18-month-old Lucio into the video.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Apr. 2025
-
In the game, Joel intercedes by shoving the man, Seth, and telling him to get the hell out.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
These sprays shrink the blood vessels in your nasal passages.—
Andrea Muraskin,
NPR,
19 Apr. 2025
-
And this isn’t just a method to shrink your waistline: The pros at Buchinger say that fasting is able to improve your quality of life both now and in the future, acting as a safeguard against aging.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
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 association contends these actions violate state rules requiring public employers to bargain over such matters, infringing on deputies’ rights and the union’s ability to represent them.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
18 Apr. 2025
-
The proposals were aimed at protecting government employees’ ability to collectively bargain amid attacks by the Trump administration, preventing cuts to food stamps and to show support for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Ukraine, respectively.—
Al Weaver,
The Hill,
5 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
There is no magic formula for how to get this right, and there is no guarantee that Trump’s approach will succeed.—
A. Wess Mitchell,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
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As for who might succeed Francis, experts say that since the late pope appointed many cardinals, his successor could be someone who shares his ideas and vision for the church, but there's no guarantee.—
David Chiu,
People.com,
21 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 26 Apr. 2025.
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