CONTRACTS Synonyms: 150 Similar and Opposite Words

contracts 1 of 2

noun

plural of contract

as in guarantees

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

as in agreements

an arrangement about action to be taken a contract outlining what needed to be done by each person

Synonyms & Similar Words

contracts

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of contract

as in gets

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

as in shrinks

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

as in compresses

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

as in covenants

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 contracts

Noun

Both Brown and Espada entered this season in the final year of their contracts. — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026 Those contracts included clauses calling for international arbitration, which seemed to reduce or remove the risk of unilateral government action. — Michael Lynch, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 For forever, signing players who had signed pro contracts, and played professionally, was not allowed by the NCAA. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2026 Members were to vote to ratify the two contracts with the Detroit automaker over the weekend. — Jackie Charniga, Freep.com, 29 Aug. 2026 State law does not require the lawmakers to fund raises, but failure to do so opens the door to renegotiate union contracts, bringing forth questions about the strength of these collective bargaining agreements. — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026 The council moved that bureau forward last year, and a spokesperson for the Housing Department said that seven positions have been hired within the bureau handling contracts and data oversight. — Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026 On Monday, members of DeFlock DC, a grassroots group dedicated to ending all contracts between the Metropolitan Police Department and Flock, explained to the group how these controversial cameras work and where they are located throughout the city. — Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 22 Aug. 2026 Musk’s SpaceX received $38 billion in federal contracts in return. — Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Aug. 2026

Verb

Homer Glen contracts with the Will County sheriff’s office for its police services. — Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026 Fewer than 10 people typically die of the illness each year, but nearly everyone who contracts it dies, according to the CDC. — Charlotte Observer, 29 Aug. 2026 Flock also contracts with businesses, schools and neighborhoods. — Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2026 First, Selig addressed the agency's proposal from June to amend its rules on what event contracts the CFTC could prohibit. — Ananya Chetia, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2026 Flock no longer contracts directly with ICE, according to information presented at the rally. — Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026 The county would have to assume the service contracts the Sheriff’s Office has with smaller cities that do not have their own fire-rescue departments, including Weston, Dania Beach, Lauderdale Lakes and Cooper City. — Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2026 Lyft, which contracts drivers, didn’t immediately return a request for comment sent to the company’s media email address. — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026 The department is looking to buy eight Skydio X10 drones from Axon, the same company the department contracts with to surveil cars in the city. — Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for contracts

Noun

Drafting a quarterback high in the NFL Draft is a substantial bet, without guarantees.

— Dane Brugler, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Paramount cannot make unlimited guarantees without undermining the financial assumptions underlying the acquisition.

— Joseph M. Singer, HollywoodReporter, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of guarantees

Noun

The Moon enters Aries and your 8th House of Shared Resources, Trust, Intimacy, and Mutual Support, bringing focus to budgets, agreements, access, debts, or private commitments.

— Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Aug. 2026
Pacheco’s role in collecting cash in exchange for political favors was pieced together through the plea agreements of other defendants caught in the probe.

— Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of agreements

Verb

Some recalls, Eskin said, are made after companies’ routine testing catches a pathogen before anyone gets sick, while others involve outbreaks that are already underway and vary widely in size and severity.

— Dian Zhang, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
All cabins come with a firepit equipped with a grill grate and a picnic table, while upgrading to an outdoor suite gets you a tarp for shade lined with string lights and an extremely comfortable hammock.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of gets

Verb

Elevated levels of insulin can increase DHT (dihydrotestosterone), a hormone that shrinks hair follicles, which can lead to hair thinning and, over time, permanent loss.

— Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 25 Aug. 2026
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold had a 5,015mAh battery, but the Pixel 11 Pro Fold shrinks that to 4,806mAh.

— Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of shrinks

Verb

The union usually bargains in the same year as performers’ union SAG-AFTRA and directors’ union the Directors Guild of America.

— Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 6 Apr. 2026
One potential—though untested—workaround would be for conferences, which are private entities, to serve as a joint employer that bargains with a players’ union.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 10 Mar. 2026

Definition of bargains

Noun

The last year has seen a groundswell of M&A activity focused on rare disease, and dozens of deals to purchase, license or fund new treatments for the rare community.

— Brad Quick, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
In the lawsuit, investors alleged they were led to believe that a groundbreaking Wondermind app would be made, advertising deals would be struck, and celebrity cover stories were already underway.

— Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of deals

Noun

NBCUniversal‘s Peacock launched a limited new membership program in a beta test with a variety of perks — aimed at keeping them from flying the coop as streaming subscribers, as well as driving incremental revenue from marketing pacts.

— Todd Spangler, Variety, 17 Aug. 2026
On climate, liberals would offer tax rewards for green energy, support joining climate pacts, and phasing out fossil fuels gradually over decades.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2026