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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 contract
Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Dawkins told The Athletic that Wizards officials and Young’s agent have not had substantive discussions about a new contract or a contract extension.
—Josh Robbins, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Sanchez had a cornea transplant in October, about 2 ½ years after contracting acanthamoeba keratitis.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contract
Noun
New documents filed Friday in the Rose Bowl’s breach-of-contract case against UCLA that also accuses Kroenke Sports and Entertainment of meddling on behalf of SoFi Stadium revealed communication between UCLA and a top Kroenke executive dating to August 2024.
—Verb
The diagnosis came from San Mateo County, where an unvaccinated adult likely contracted the virus from recent international travel, according to Preston Merchant, a San Mateo County Health spokesperson.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for contract
Noun
-
Then, keep scrolling to shop more bath deals at Amazon.—
-
Think of this as your go-to guide to the best Amazon travel deals, jumpstarting the new year.—
Noun
-
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
-
Their noise got loudest at night when the city became quiet.—
-
And Natalie is still justifiably concerned about her dad, calling him up during his night from hell and getting no information from him.—
Verb
-
Headcount shrank for an 11th straight month, albeit at a slower pace, amid modest production growth.—
-
The number of Republicans running for governor in Colorado has shrunk by two.—
Verb
-
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.—
Verb
-
Players’ associations could argue such a policy interferes with athletes’ freedom to contract and must be collectively bargained as a condition of employment.—
-
The announcement comes after resort ownership and its patrollers union, which have been bargaining since June, reached an impasse in negotiations.—
Noun
-
Major oil companies remain hesitant about Venezuela investments due to political instability, past expropriations and uncertainty over contract protections and guarantees.—
-
When Ukraine agreed to give up the nuclear weapons on its soil in the mid-1990s, Russia provided a security guarantee that proved worthless.—
Noun
-
The goal of the pact is to strengthen military capabilities in the Pacific, aiming to promote deterrence and stability in a region that has seen a major buildup by China.—
-
On the video side, Amazon this year has been busy signing up DSP partners, inking recent pacts with Netflix, Disney and Roku for programmatic ad sales.—
Cite this Entry
“Contract.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contract. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share