1
as in hard
having a consistency that does not easily yield to pressure
a mattress with a compact foam core
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2
as in packed
having little space between items or parts
compact soil that should provide good support for the plant
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3
as in concise
marked by the use of few words to convey much information or meaning
compact prose without a single wasted word
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1
as in treaty
a formal agreement between two or more nations or peoples
a five-nation compact to control drug traffic
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2
as in agreement
an arrangement about action to be taken
the two made a compact never to artificially prolong the other's life in the event of incapacitating illness or injury
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1
as in to consolidate
to bring (something) to a central point or under a single control
the media giant decided to compact all of its far-flung operations onto a single site
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2
as in to compress
to reduce in size or volume by or as if by pressing parts or members together
compact the snow into a tight ball for throwing
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of compact
Keith Laing, USA Today, 9 Jan. 2026
Tomorrow Doesn't Matter, better known as TDM, unveiled Neo, a premium on-ear 2-in-1 hybrid headphone that physically twists into a compact Bluetooth speaker.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Deena Zaru, ABC News, 11 Dec. 2025
Wet soil compacts easily underfoot, so rather than dig or weed or plant, do other chores like repotting plants, cleaning your toolshed, and planning for spring.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Dec. 2025
New Atlas, 9 Dec. 2025
The team also discovered that synthetic condensates closely mimic how DNA is compacted inside cells.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for compact
Adjective
Nissan has decided to end production of its Versa compact sedan, ending a two-decade-long run for a car that was launched with great fanfare.
—Noun
Since then, the offer was extended to other higher education institutions – none of which have agreed to the compact so far.
—Verb
The hammock fabric and straps compact down and store in a zippered pouch that fits inside the stuff sack atop the tent.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for compact
Adjective
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Of all my books, Helm has been so hard and so lovingly written.—
-
Regardless, making amends with Ronnie is harder than Lilly would like.—
Adjective
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Acharia attended Raj’s recent New York City show, describing a packed venue where the predominantly young, female audience knew every lyric.—
-
The fire tore through the Le Constellation bar in the Alpine resort town in the early hours Thursday, turning a packed night of celebration into panic and tragedy.—
Adjective
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The company is also upgrading a proofreading option for checking grammar and making messages more concise.—
-
Just across the street, Miya is a quirky, two-room Thai charmer with a relatively concise menu of curries, noodles, soups, salads and vegetables.—
Noun
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In 2026, the governance vacuum will deepen—the Indus Waters Treaty suspended, Ethiopia’s Nile dam operational with no binding agreement, China building the world’s largest dam with no downstream treaty.—
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After 15 years, Spanish troops dispersed the settlement—which had grown to 4,000, and had its own cavalry—but subsequent maroon groups forced colonizers to sign treaties with them.—
Noun
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The agreement includes bipartisan bills worked out by the Senate Appropriations Committee to fund parts of government — food aid, veterans programs and the legislative branch, among other things.—
-
There’s near-universal agreement from all kinds of housing observers that the affordability crisis is one of (non)-supply and demand.—
Verb
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By consolidating ticketing for buses, ferries, and vans, 12Go Asia reduces uncertainty and helps transform complex island-hopping itineraries into manageable travel experiences.—
-
Andy Burke, acoustic consultant director at AEC, also made the point that roofs should be kept as low as safely allowed to ensure supporter noise is consolidated and then channelled towards the pitch.—
Verb
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The ability of the sponge to compress means that over time the rug will weigh down the edges and prevent the rug from looking like it’s raised up onto a surface.—
-
Las Vegas has compressed a short stretch of the Strip into a luxury gauntlet that’ll wreck your step count and your credit limit in the same afternoon.—
Adjective
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Even with the affair, David's alibi appeared to be solid, so Belinda's murder went unsolved for years.—
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Polka dots bring visual interest without overwhelming a look, pairing easily with solid staples.—
Cite this Entry
“Compact.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compact. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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