compresses

verb

present tense third-person singular of compress
1
as in condenses
to reduce in size or volume by or as if by pressing parts or members together a science textbook that compresses a lot of information about human reproduction into a few short chapters

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2
as in shrinks
to become smaller in size or volume through the drawing together of particles of matter the substance can compress under pressure

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 compresses Queues in the major markets run for years, new transmission runs longer, and no amount of capital compresses a utility approval process that was designed for a different century. — Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026 Framed as an ensemble drama rather than the story of a single heroic whistleblower, the production compresses Ibsen’s plot, reimagines the ending and leans into satire without sacrificing moral bite. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026 This lightweight puffer jacket compresses down to take up such little room. — Kaitlin Marks, Travel + Leisure, 26 Aug. 2026 That intuition usually takes years to build, but a new controller from MIT engineers compresses that learning curve to a single session. — New Atlas, 21 Aug. 2026 Indeed, the Lorentz contraction compresses a moving object, although the contraction does not appear in a snapshot of the object. — Aaron Shattuck, Scientific American, 18 Aug. 2026 The spines only penetrate the ice as the suspension compresses, generating grip and protecting them from high-impact forces. — Tim Hornyak, IEEE Spectrum, 18 Aug. 2026 Pushing on or leaning against something that compresses the belly may increase the discomfort. — Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 14 Aug. 2026 In practice, that means Hollow compresses large datasets aggressively enough to fit entirely in a machine's RAM, roughly an eightfold improvement in memory use over traditional methods, by his account. — Jon Stojan, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compresses
  1. condenses
  2. shrinks
  3. squeezes
  4. constricts
Verb
  • The film’s final scene condenses a great deal of meaning into a single moment.
    — JD Linville, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026
  • As the plume rises, the water vapor cools and condenses into tiny cloud droplets, forming a cloud directly above the fire.
    — Yunyao Li, The Conversation, 30 July 2026
Definition of condenses
Verb
  • Elevated levels of insulin can increase DHT (dihydrotestosterone), a hormone that shrinks hair follicles, which can lead to hair thinning and, over time, permanent loss.
    — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The Pixel 10 Pro Fold had a 5,015mAh battery, but the Pixel 11 Pro Fold shrinks that to 4,806mAh.
    — Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of shrinks
Verb
  • If internal fluid pressure drops during aggressive extraction, the surrounding earth squeezes the cavern inward, permanently shrinking total storage capacity and crushing steel well casings.
    — Siddharth Misra, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026
  • As engine speed rises, centrifugal force squeezes the drive clutch closed and pushes the belt farther outward.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of squeezes
Verb
  • This stress response constricts blood vessels and accelerates heart rate, which can contribute to blood pressure spikes.
    — Kathleen Ferraro, Verywell Health, 11 June 2026
  • The coldness of the water constricts arteries, requiring the heart to work harder than normal to function.
    — Saleen Martin, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2026
Definition of constricts

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compressed
compresses
compressible
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Cite this Entry

“Compresses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compresses. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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