contraction

[kuhn-trak-shuhn] / kənˈtræk ʃən /

NOUN

drawing in; shortening

Synonyms

STRONGEST

decrease deflation recession reduction shrinkage

STRONG

abbreviation abridgment compression condensation condensing confinement constriction curtailment diminution dwindling elision evaporation lessening narrowing omission receding reducing shrinking tightening withdrawal

WEAK

abbreviating abridging confining curtailing cutting down decreasing deflating diminishing drawing together evaporating lopping omitting shrivelling tensing withdrawing

Antonyms

STRONGEST

enlargement increase

STRONG

expansion opening

WEAK

amplification dilation extension lengthening spread stretch

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

April's contraction was the first monthly fall since August last year, but had been forecast by economists after stronger than expected growth in March.

From BBC • Jun. 12, 2026

Gregory said the contraction in April "showed the strong start to the year is now faltering".

From BBC • Jun. 12, 2026

The contraction came in line with a consensus of economists polled by The Wall Street Journal.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026

The jobs data precedes a Bank of Canada policy committee meeting next week, following a second straight quarterly economic contraction.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026

We were still ten kilometers from the village when my chronic backache spread to a deep, rock-hard contraction across my lower belly, and I understood with horror that I was in labor.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

Vocabulary lists containing contraction

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