contained 1 of 2

Definition of containednext

contained

2 of 2

verb

past tense of contain
1
as in held
to have within the top drawer of the cabinet contains my stamp collection

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
3
4
as in calmed
to gain emotional or mental control of could hardly contain herself when she heard that she had won the scholarship

Synonyms & Similar Words

5

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 contained
Adjective
And beyond that, everyone else had to be very contained and very disciplined and very selfless. Laura Bradley, Vulture, 8 July 2025 The piece itself is a very contained script: two people, New York City, all-night shoots, felt very manageable to me. Carlos Aguilar, Rolling Stone, 13 June 2025
Verb
The conclusion among many was that Iran was now an enemy to be confronted and contained. Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 1 Apr. 2026 The material contained on this site is intended to inform, entertain and educate the reader and in no way represents an inducement to gamble legally or illegally or any sort of professional advice. Stephanie Kuzydym, Louisville Courier Journal, 1 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for contained
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contained
Adjective
  • What caught my attention, however, beyond the lip-syncing and costume changes, was the family opposite me: the mother neat and composed, father in golf-course polo and chinos, two thirty-something sons cheering alongside a girlfriend who would not look out of place on a pageant stage.
    Sophie Morgan, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Mar. 2026
  • Before Tuesday night, Konate had looked much more composed and commanding.
    James Pearce, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The rapper, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, has been held at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center since he was arrested in September 2024.
    Daniel S. Levine, People.com, 6 Aug. 2025
  • That means every state budget could be held hostage until the whims of a small fraction of legislators is satisfied.
    Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 6 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The applicant also included a follow-up email explaining the scope of the work and requesting payment within 14 days.
    Darlin Tillery, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
  • The Heat nearly wasted a 15-point second-half lead, but held on in a contest that included 14 lead changes to improve to 2-7 over its last nine games.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The current Pentagon press corps is comprised mostly of conservative outlets that agreed to the policy.
    ABC News, ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
  • The Justice Department initially said that its release, made in response to a law passed by Congress compelling the agency to disclose nearly all files related to Epstein, comprised more than 3 million pages.
    Elliott Ramos, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The United States ended up the loser, particularly vis-à-vis China, but at least the storms calmed.
    Nicholas D. Kristof, Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2026
  • After undergoing a full-scale revamp last offseason, the waters have calmed on the Texas Rangers' television front.
    R.J. Coyle, Dallas Morning News, 18 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Israel, meanwhile, saw Nasser’s rising influence across the Arab world as a danger, and wanted an excuse to cut him down, and to target Palestinian fedayeen militants who were operating in Gaza and the Sinai Peninsula, which were both controlled by Egypt at the time.
    Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
  • Instead of pushing from a single point, assistance is distributed through the stride, making movement feel more stable and controlled.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The robot will vacuum oil from the water’s surface, return to its base station to discharge the collected oil, and then redeploy to the spill site.
    Ben Coxworth March 10, New Atlas, 10 Mar. 2026
  • The collected data is then analyzed by an outside statistician before the report is issued.
    Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 25 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Even Claude Code’s creator, Boris Cherny, has boasted that the latest version was written entirely by—yes—Claude Code.
    Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
  • By the first week of December, Olsson boasted seven goals in five matches, becoming the first player in WSL history to score four goals in her first five starts.
    Megan Feringa, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Contained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contained. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on contained

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster