1
as in condenses
to reduce in size or volume by or as if by pressing parts or members together
a science textbook that compresses a lot of information about human reproduction into a few short chapters
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2
as in shrinks
to become smaller in size or volume through the drawing together of particles of matter
the substance can compress under pressure
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Recent Examples of compresses
This vapor layer unexpectedly acts as a cushion, ensuring the shockwave compresses the water symmetrically.
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Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 11 Jan. 2026
This high pressure compresses the air in the atmosphere and leads to very warm temperatures for this time of year.
—Troy Bridges, CBS News, 23 Dec. 2025
The facility compresses and expands CO2 daily in its closed system, turning a turbine that generates 200 megawatt-hours of electricity, or 20 MW over 10 hours.
—IEEE Spectrum, 21 Dec. 2025
The condition develops when something, like swelling of the tissues around the nerve, compresses the nerve that runs through the space between your wrist bones.
—Ruth Jessen Hickman, Health, 8 Dec. 2025
This interaction compresses the plasma into a dense sheet, which then slams into smaller gas clumps, resulting in a cosmic maelstrom that amplifies magnetic field strengths far beyond what a single shock could achieve — matching the unexpectedly strong values seen in observations.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 21 Nov. 2025
Tight hip flexors pull your pelvis forward into an anterior tilt, forcing your back into an arch that compresses your lumbar spine and stresses low-back muscles.
—Dana Santas, CNN Money, 17 Nov. 2025
The Cosmic Pathway compresses 13 billion years of history into a single 360-foot-long ramp.
—Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 8 Nov. 2025
The compact vacuum even blows up air mattresses and compresses vacuum storage bags.
—Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compresses
Verb
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Directed by Shōta Goshozono, the film condenses the anime’s Shibuya Incident arc as Yuji Itadori and his allies face a coordinated curse attack on Halloween.—
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As air flows over cold evaporator coils in the unit, the moisture condenses into water droplets that are collected in a compartment to be emptied or drained later.—
Verb
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This is tied to a low‑hire, low‑fire labor market, the rapid automation of entry‑level roles, and a tech industry whose workforce is getting older as Gen Z’s presence shrinks.—
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Antarctic Ozone hole shrinks The ozone hole over Antarctica has shrunk to its fifth-smallest size in more than three decades, according to NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).—
Verb
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As the moon follows an elliptical path, Saturn’s gravity stretches and squeezes it.—
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View gallery - 12 images This recently completed tiny house squeezes a lot of living space into a compact footprint using clever design.—
Verb
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Cold water immersion constricts blood vessels, reduces swelling, numbs sore areas, and flushes lactic acid from the muscles.—
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Without this process, the air would be colder and drier, which irritates and constricts the airways and can lead to inflammation.—
Cite this Entry
“Compresses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compresses. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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