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Glite Dictionary
📉 Reducing the economy 💪 Tightening muscles
contractionary

contractionary

8.2
That causes muscles or tissues to become tighter and shorter
  • adjective
  • /kənˈtrækʃənˌɛri/
  • Specialized
translation icon : contractivo
  • Doctors monitor for contractionary responses when testing nerve function in the clinic.

Examples

  • The medication had a contractionary effect on the patient's muscles during the procedure.

  • Some herbs are believed to have contractionary properties that affect smooth muscle tissue.

  • Don't forget the contractionary phase!

  • The contractionary response is vital.

  • The medication had a contractionary effect on the patient's muscles during the procedure.

  • Doctors monitor for contractionary responses when testing nerve function in the clinic.

  • Some herbs are believed to have contractionary properties that affect smooth muscle tissue.

Synonyms

contractive
vscontractionary
  • Specialized
7.5

Makes a muscle or tissue shorten

is used for things related to tissue tightening rather than directly causing it
constrictive
vscontractionary
6.2

Making something tight so it is hard to move

is limited to muscles and tissues and used in medical contexts

Antonyms

relaxing
47 1.0

Making you feel calm and comfortable

How Contractile

contractionary
  • Specialized
8.2
contractile
  • Specialized
7.4
flaccid
14 7.3

Surface Forms

contractionary positive

Morphology

contractionary = contraction (semi-transparent) = contract + ion + ary

The term 'contractionary' is derived from 'contraction', but its specific physiological meaning might not be immediately clear to all learners.

Etymology

Contractionary comes from the same parts con- ('together') and tract ('pull') as contract and contraction, which mean 'to shorten' or 'to pull in'. So calling something contractionary means it makes muscles or tissue tighten and get shorter.