Synonyms for contraction
Most common
condensation abbreviation decrease reduction constriction compression
Synonyms by meaning
Noun
1. Condensation — senses relating to pulling together or shortening. A (sometimes reversible) contracting or reduction in…
condensation, abbreviation, decrease, reduction, shortening, diminution, curtailment, lessening, abridgment US, abridgement UK, epitome
2. Constriction
Definitions
- n. 1
Senses relating to pulling together or shortening. A (sometimes reversible) contracting or reduction in length, scope, size, or volume; a narrowing, a shortening, a shrinking. An abridgement or shortening of writing, etc.; an abstract, a summary; also (uncountable), brevity, conciseness.
- n. 2
Senses relating to becoming involved with or entering into, especially entering into a contract. An act of incurring debt; also (generally), an act of acquiring something (generally negative).
Our contraction of debt in this quarter has reduced our ability to attract investors.
Related words
- Word family
- contract contractable contractant contracted contracting contractor
Forms
- Plural
- contractions → condensations, abbreviations, decreases, reductions…
Choose the right word
An abbreviation is a shortening by any method; a contraction is a reduction of size by the drawing together of the parts. Abbreviation and contraction are used of words and phrases, abridgment of books, paragraphs, sentences, etc.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- decrease A significant decrease in temperature is expected.
- shortening This plum tart is to be made with shortening.
- compression He has a compression fracture of the spine.
- constriction Sunbeam snakes kill their prey with constriction.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| contraction | steady | |
| decrease | falling | |
| shortening | falling | |
| diminution | falling | |
| curtailment | falling | |
| compression | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 7 letters
- epitome4, syncope3
- 8 letters
- decrease2, catching2
- 9 letters
- reduction3, narrowing3, lessening3, stricture2
- 10 letters
- shortening3, diminution4, abridgment
- 11 letters
- compression3, curtailment3, abridgement3
- 12 letters
- condensation4, abbreviation5, constriction3
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (epitome4 = 4 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- contraction
- Italiano
- contrazione
- Español
- contracción
- Deutsch
- Zusammenziehung