contracted 1 of 2

adjective

as in squeezed

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contracted

2 of 2

verb

past tense of contract
1
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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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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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

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
Earlier this week Russian officials reported that an employee at a laboratory at an infectious disease research institute in Irkutsk Oblast in Siberia, had contracted pneumonia and died. — Claire Maldarelli, Scientific American, 7 Oct. 2026 Customs and Border Protection has previously contracted with Oritain for origin-testing services and with Exiger, a supply chain AI and risk management company whose technology detects illicit transshipment. — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2026 Room for Disagreement Attempts to damage Nigerian oil pipelines fell by 87% between 2022 and last year, a private company contracted to guard the Trans Niger Pipeline in the southern Niger Delta region said in November. — Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026 The City of West Hollywood contracted both Sunset Boulevard events, and Live On Sunset is produced by JJLA, the events and entertainment agency behind OUTLOUD Music Festival at WeHo Pride. — Katherine Turman, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026 Tech is also turning to uprates because almost all of the closed nuclear plants that are realistic candidates to reopen have largely been contracted. — Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026 The following weekend, the theater count contracted to 660 and its gross fell 89 percent to $231,000. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 4 Oct. 2026 There appears to be some talks as to exactly what De Luca and Abdy’s role will be in the new entity, however, the duo weren’t contracted to report into other motion picture chairs, rather the CEO. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2026 For Luminiscence’s live music shows, local musicians and singers are contracted at each stop. — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contracted
  1. compressed
  2. got
  3. shrank
  4. squeezed
  5. agreed
  6. condensed
  7. caught
  8. decreased
Adjective
  • The couple had purchased their extra-wide, 3,600-square-foot house after realizing their initial dream, a historic brownstone, felt a little too compressed.
    — Keith Flanagan, Architectural Digest, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Digging into the character was all the more challenging for both Pitt and Ayer given the compressed pre-production schedule and swift shoot, which required them to hit the ground running.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of compressed
Verb
  • If another worker with a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas PPO plan got the same drug at the same Houston Methodist hospital, an employer could be paying almost six times as much, or nearly $4,400 for a vial.
    — Bob Herman, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026
  • A little less than 18 months ago, Ukraine carried out a sneak drone attack in which forces smuggled them into Russian territory and waited until the truck that was unknowingly carrying them got close to Russian bases.
    — Mike Brest, The Washington Examiner, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of got
Verb
  • Walmart China, for instance, has shrunk portion sizes to match households’ smaller appetites.
    — Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Since their debut in 1986, American Girl has shrunk their historical line significantly–including paring down the traditional six-book set for each historical character into two streamlined texts.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of shrank
Verb
  • Producers are already being squeezed between competing supply chains.
    — MATIAS SPEKTOR, Foreign Affairs, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Brands are making more on paper and keeping less in the bank, squeezed from every side by rising ad costs, tariffs and overhead.
    — David Born, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of squeezed
Verb
  • By October 1, 2026, the Court had agreed to hear 29 cases (only 21 of which were then scheduled for oral argument) while continuing to evaluate numerous petitions for review.
    — Brian Duignan, Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The president withdrew consideration for a ban after the Group of Seven agreed last week to release up to 100 million barrels of oil and diesel from its emergency stocks.
    — Maydeen Merino, The Washington Examiner, 5 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
  • Winter is still so young—24—and caught in the glare of a very bright followspot.
    — Walden Green, Pitchfork, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The ball would not have left the playing field nor would it have been caught.
    — James O'Connell, New York Daily News, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of caught
Verb
  • This means any slowdown in the labor market could create a more serious consumption problem, with the same households facing slower income growth and decreased access to credit.
    — Harvey Stober, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2026
  • And the number of young people who stayed on medication for six months — already quite low — may have actually decreased.
    — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of decreased

Browse Nearby Words

contract
contracted
contracted (for)
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Cite this Entry

“Contracted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contracted. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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