Synonyms of contracting

contracting 1 of 2

noun

as in squeezing

the act or process of reducing the size or volume of something by or as if by pressing

the contracting of the time frame for the primaries tends to favor candidates who are already well-known

Synonyms & Similar Words

• squeezing
• compression
• condensing
• contraction
• squeeze
• condensation
• consolidation
• constriction
• compaction
• constricting
• telescoping
• compacting
• concentration
• shortening
• curtailment
• decreasing
• abbreviation
• streamlining
• abridgment
• simplification
• lessening
• diminishment

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• expansion
• dispersion
• scattering
• inflation
• decompression
• dissipation
• swelling
• dilation
• distension

contracting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of contract

1

as in getting

to become affected with (a disease or disorder)

before vaccines were invented, people lived in fear of contracting polio

Synonyms & Similar Words

• getting
• catching
• taking
• coming down (with)
• going down (with)
• sickening (with)
• weakening
• worsening
• dying (from)
• succumbing (to)
• failing
• sinking
• breaking out (with)
• languishing
• wasting (away)
• withering
• wilting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• recovering
• gaining
• healing
• coming back
• recuperating
• mending
• shaking (off)
• recouping
• recovering (from)
• rebounding
• snapping back
• rallying

2

as in shrinking

to become smaller in size or volume through the drawing together of particles of matter

metal contracts at low temperatures

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shrinking
• compressing
• decreasing
• condensing
• constricting
• collapsing
• flattening
• withdrawing
• diminishing
• retreating
• shriveling
• dwindling
• drying up
• lessening
• receding
• withering
• deflating
• wilting
• abating

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• expanding
• swelling
• increasing
• growing
• accumulating
• snowballing
• ballooning
• inflating
• puffing (up)
• ballooning

3

as in compressing

to reduce in size or volume by or as if by pressing parts or members together

contract the calf muscles in your legs

Synonyms & Similar Words

• compressing
• squeezing
• condensing
• consolidating
• packing
• collapsing
• constricting
• compacting
• narrowing (down)
• telescoping
• constringing
• simplifying
• capsuling
• capsulizing
• cramming
• shortening
• curtailing
• downsizing
• shrinking
• decreasing
• crowding
• jamming
• abridging
• streamlining
• concentrating
• abbreviating
• diminishing
• jam-packing
• boiling down
• lessening

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• expanding
• opening
• dilating
• dispersing
• scattering
• dissipating
• decompressing
• swelling
• outspreading
• outstretching
• inflating
• distending

4

as in bargaining

to come to an arrangement as to a course of action

the farmer contracted for delivery of the hay by the first of July

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bargaining
• agreeing
• covenanting
• coming to terms
• arranging
• underwriting
• striking a bargain
• coming around
• subscribing
• coming round
• settling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• differing
• disagreeing
• dissenting
• revoking
• canceling
• arguing
• objecting
• contesting
• disputing
• reneging

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of contracting

Noun

Experts say the risk of contracting rabies from a bat remains low, but the disease is almost always fatal once symptoms appear and is preventable with prompt treatment. — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

This included contracting with OpenAI to provide ChatGPT Edu to all its faculty, staff and students and setting up an advisory board to advocate for AI skills needed in the state’s workforce. — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 28 Sep. 2026

That requires an operations system consisting of talent contracting, briefing, rate management and content review that can onboard and coordinate creators at that pace. — Agung Dwi Sandi, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Each contracting city will have the option to see what makes more sense, contract with the sheriff or join the MSTU? — Marci Woodward, Sun Sentinel, 25 Sep. 2026

Knife River – The stock rose almost 3% following a Wall Street Journal report that activist investor Starboard Value has acquired a substantial equity interest in the construction materials and contracting services company. — Michelle Fox,darla Mercado, Cfp®, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2026

Steve Clemente is an Electrician, as well as the President and COO of Mister Sparky, an electrical contracting company. — Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 23 Sep. 2026

Partly because the contracting system remains dysfunctional, the government has made little visible progress toward repairing the country’s crumbling highways. — Will Freeman, The Atlantic, 20 Sep. 2026

Officials said the overall risk of contracting measles is low for people who are fully vaccinated. — Adam Thompson, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026

Verb

At least 50 health workers have died after contracting the virus. — ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026

To prevent women from contracting HIV from their partners while pregnant, antenatal clinics hope to start offering vaginal rings, which slowly release a protective antiretroviral drug over the course of a month. — David Cox, NPR, 26 Sep. 2026

The former for-profit prison was closed in 2021 after then-President Joe Biden’s executive order barred the Department of Justice from contracting with private prisons. — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 2026

With this supercomputing infrastructure, the community colleges aim to avoid contracting with an external AI vendor that may come with a higher price tag and data privacy concerns. — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 24 Sep. 2026

The economy is contracting and growing more unequal, leaving a large underclass too poor to participate meaningfully in the new private sector. — Will Freeman, Foreign Affairs, 17 Sep. 2026

China’s official manufacturing purchasing managers’ index showed new orders and output both returned to expansion in August after contracting in July. — Anniek Bao,evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026

The measles virus is one of the most contagious infectious diseases; so contagious, in fact, that 90% of unvaccinated people who are exposed end up contracting it. — Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2026

The bill defines a brand guarantor broadly as anyone contracting for garment manufacturing, including through a brand or name-licensing arrangement. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 15 Sep. 2026