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as in to compress
to become smaller in size or volume through the drawing together of particles of matter over time the once-fluffy material in the pillow had condensed into a lumpy wad

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How is the word condense different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of condense are compress, constrict, contract, deflate, and shrink. While all these words mean "to decrease in bulk or volume," condense implies a reducing of something homogeneous to greater compactness without significant loss of content.

condense the essay into a paragraph

Where would compress be a reasonable alternative to condense?

While in some cases nearly identical to condense, compress implies a pressing into a small compass and definite shape usually against resistance.

compressed cotton into bales

When would constrict be a good substitute for condense?

The meanings of constrict and condense largely overlap; however, constrict implies a tightening that reduces diameter.

the throat is constricted by a tight collar

In what contexts can contract take the place of condense?

The words contract and condense can be used in similar contexts, but contract applies to a drawing together of surfaces or particles or a reduction of area or length.

caused her muscles to contract

When is it sensible to use deflate instead of condense?

The words deflate and condense are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, deflate implies a contracting by reducing the internal pressure of contained air or gas.

deflate the balloon

When could shrink be used to replace condense?

Although the words shrink and condense have much in common, shrink implies a contracting or a loss of material and stresses a falling short of original dimensions.

the sweater will shrink when washed

Examples 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 condense The interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 8 Jan. 2025 The conversation, which took surprisingly serious turns, has been edited and condensed. Lanna Apisukh, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024 That Bramall Lane Boxing Day result helped condense the picture at the top of the Championship. Michael Walker, The Athletic, 28 Dec. 2024 This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and concision. Kristin Auble, Vogue, 31 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for condense 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for condense
Verb
  • To get a return less than that projected by the above formula, either the company has to underperform the consensus growth estimates or the stock's valuation would need to compress.
    GuruFocus, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
  • Some settlement appears to have started right around the time when the construction of new buildings nearby began, and when vibration might have caused layers of sand to compress further – just like shaking ground coffee in a tin will make room for more.
    Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 14 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Turn the pot on its side and loosen the root ball from the pot's walls by squeezing or tapping the side of the pot a little.
    Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Jan. 2025
  • Jair Bolsonaro’s Stay-Out-of-Jail Card: The former Brazilian president, squeezed by criminal investigations, is looking to Trump, Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg to shift his nation’s politics — and maybe keep him a free man.
    Ruth Maclean, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Tailor For Expense Reduction Messaging When crafting your capabilities statement, customize it to showcase how your business can help agencies reduce costs: • Use metrics to quantify savings from previous contracts.
    Col. Rafael Marrero, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
  • And the disaster has exposed holes in the region's preparations to reduce the chances of fires getting so unmanageable and to keep communities safer.
    Lauren Sommer, NPR, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • As their military budgets shrank over the decades, European countries relied heavily on the United States for security, trusting in the NATO pledge that an attack on one member will be treated as an attack on all.
    Josh Holder, New York Times, 25 Jan. 2025
  • In the early 20th century, Black farmers owned 16 millions acres of land; today that number has shrunk to roughly a million.
    Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • This suggests that the Galaxy S25 series will use Gemini to extract information from YouTube videos and create new notes in the Samsung Notes app.
    Paul Monckton, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
  • The deciding factor was forced errors, with Siegemund stretching Zheng often enough to extract 31 errors from her opponent while conceding just 13.
    Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The 10 least relaxed states were all concentrated in the southern and southwestern states.
    Madeline Fitzgerald, Quartz, 19 Jan. 2025
  • Once a fire gets into the canyons, the fire just gets concentrated and all of the oxygen from being pulled through the canyon just fuels it.
    Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 16 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The move is an apparent effort to repeal President Biden’s executive order to remove potential workforce barriers for the outlined demographic in 2021.
    Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 22 Jan. 2025
  • The site, however, was removed during Trump's first term which started in 2017.
    Kristen Waggoner, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near condense

Cite this Entry

“Condense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/condense. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.

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