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4 : to shorten (a word) by omitting letters or sounds in the middle

— con·tract·ible adjective

— con·trac·tor noun

Synonyms

[1] catch, come down, get, sicken, take; also break out (with); die (from), succumb (to); fail, sink, weaken

[3a, 3b] compress, condense, constrict, lessen, shrink; also collapse, deflate; dry (up), shrivel, wither; decrease, diminish, dwindle; recede, retreat, withdraw

Antonyms

expand, swell

con·trac·tile adjective : able to contract

— con·trac·til·i·ty noun

con·trac·tion noun : the action or process of contracting

Synonyms

compression, condensation, constriction—more at COMPRESSION

con·tra·dict verb : to assert the contrary of : deny the truth of

Synonyms

deny, disallow, disavow, disclaim, gainsay, negate, negative, reject, repudiate—more at DENY

con·tra·dic·tion noun : the act or an instance of contradicting

Synonyms

denial, disallowance, disavowal, disclaimer, negation, rejection, repudiation—more at DENIAL

con·tra·dic·to·ry adjective : involving, causing, or constituting a contradiction

Synonyms

antipodal, antithetical, contrary, diametric, opposite, polar—more at OPPOSITE

con·tra·dis·tinc·tion noun : distinction by contrast

con·trail noun : a streak of condensed water vapor created by an airplane or rocket at high altitudes

con·tra·in·di·cate verb : to make (a treatment or procedure) inadvisable

— con·tra·in·di·ca·tion noun

con·tral·to noun, plural -tos : the lowest female voice; also : a singer having such a voice

con·trap·tion noun : something devised or contrived : CONTRIVANCE

Synonyms

contrivance, gadget, gimmick, gizmo, jigger—more at GADGET

con·tra·pun·tal adjective : of or relating to counterpoint

con·tra·ri·ety noun, plural -eties : the state of being contrary : DISAGREEMENT, INCONSISTENCY

con·trari·wise adverb 1 : on the contrary

2 : VICE VERSA

con·trary adjective 1 : opposite in nature or position

2 : COUNTER, OPPOSED

3 : UNFAVORABLE — used of wind or weather

4 : unwilling to accept control or advice

— con·trari·ly adverb

— con·trary noun or adverb

Synonyms

[1] antipodal, antithetical, contradictory, diametric, opposite, polar—more at OPPOSITE

[4] defiant, disobedient, froward, intractable, rebellious, recalcitrant, refractory, unruly, untoward, wayward, willful—more at DISOBEDIENT

1contrast verb [ORIGIN: F contraster, fr. MF, to oppose, resist, fr. VL *contrastare, fr. L contra- against + stare to stand]

1 : to show differences when compared

2 : to compare in such a way as to show differences

2contrast noun 1 : diversity of adjacent parts in color, emotion, tone, or brightness

2 : unlikeness as shown when things are compared : DIFFERENCE

Synonyms

difference, disagreement, discrepancy, disparity, distinction, diversity, unlikeness—more at DIFFERENCE

con·tra·vene verb -vened; -ven·ing 1 : to go or act contrary to <~ a law>

2 : CONTRADICT

con·tre·temps noun, plural con·tre·temps [ORIGIN: F]

: an inopportune or embarrassing occurrence

contrib abbreviation contribution; contributor

con·trib·ute verb -ut·ed; -ut·ing 1 : to give along with others (as to a fund)

2 : HELP, ASSIST

— con·trib·u·tor noun

— con·trib·u·to·ry adjective

Synonyms

bestow, chip in, donate, give, kick in, pitch in, present

con·tri·bu·tion noun 1 : the act of contributing

2 : the thing contributed

Synonyms

alms, benefaction, beneficence, charity, donation, philanthropy; also offering, tithe; bequest, endowment, legacy; aid, assistance, relief, welfare; grant, subsidy

con·trite adjective : feeling or showing sorrow and remorse for a sin or shortcoming : PENITENT, REPENTANT

— con·trite·ly adverb

Synonyms

apologetic, penitent, regretful, remorseful, repentant, rueful, sorry; also sad, grieving, mournful, sorrowful, woeful

Antonyms

impenitent, remorseless, unapologetic, unrepentant

con·tri·tion noun : the state of being contrite

Synonyms

guilt, penitence, remorse, repentance, self-reproach, shame—more