mend

1
2
3
4
as in to compensate
to make up for (an offense) the proverb "least said, soonest mended" should be heeded by anyone tempted to angrily blurt out things they really don't mean

Synonyms & Similar Words

5
as in to improve
to change one's behavior or character for the better everyone's written her off as a liar and a thief, but I say it's never too late to mend

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

6

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb mend contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of mend are patch, rebuild, and repair. While all these words mean "to put into good order something that is injured, damaged, or defective," mend implies making whole or sound something broken, torn, or injured.

mended the torn dress

When is patch a more appropriate choice than mend?

Although the words patch and mend have much in common, patch implies an often temporary fixing of a hole or break with new material.

patch worn jeans

Where would rebuild be a reasonable alternative to mend?

The words rebuild and mend are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, rebuild suggests making like new without completely replacing.

a rebuilt automobile engine

When can repair be used instead of mend?

The words repair and mend can be used in similar contexts, but repair applies to the fixing of more extensive damage or dilapidation.

repaired the back steps

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 mend Forgiveness has helped mend both men. Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025 The money helps to keep its doors open, fund church programs and mends the spirit of its congregation, the church wrote. Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2025 Many also do not accept the validity of the current government and react passionately to suggestions that fences might be mended or bridges built. Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 22 Oct. 2025 In his photographs of young men of the RAF, Beaton finds a slight homoerotic lens — there’s men sharing cigarettes, bunked together in the trenches and mending clothes on a sewing machine. Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mend
Verb
  • In June, the Swain contingent provided Ronin the funding to buy a company that repairs and overhauls systems for commercial aircraft.
    Shawn Tully, Fortune, 1 Nov. 2025
  • In addition, Keegan Murray is still sidelined after undergoing surgery to repair an ulnar collateral ligament tear in his left thumb.
    Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Even if Elizabeth recovered, the odds were stacked against her.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Nov. 2025
  • The Bengals then lined up for a desperation onside kick and, thanks to the slightest of touches off a Bears player’s foot, managed to recover the ball to get possession back.
    Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The good news is Jackson may be healed enough to return to the field, which would give the Ravens a huge chance at beating the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
    James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Repetitive motions, awkward postures, and constant strain add up, often ending in costly musculoskeletal injuries that take weeks to heal.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • This was initially an emergency measure introduced in 2020, when football was forced into a demanding schedule to compensate for the three months lost to the pandemic.
    Michael Cox, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
  • Not Considering Size Trying to compensate for the wrong-size reed diffuser by adding or removing reeds is the wrong way to go, says Xu.
    Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Following Monday night’s win over the Portland Trail Blazers, the Los Angeles Lakers improved to 6-2, tying for second place in the Western Conference.
    Cole Sullivan, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
  • One way the company is hoping to improve performance is by lowering the inventory.
    Ricardo Torres, jsonline.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Gel polish that’s formulated for use with a lamp won’t properly cure without one.
    Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 6 Nov. 2025
  • These included discoloration of the carbon after oven curing.
    Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The White House pushed back against that characterization and argued the administration only aims to fix the years of politically motivated enforcement that occurred under Democrats and their holdovers.
    Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 6 Nov. 2025
  • For example, the tests measure AI’s ability to fix inconsistencies in customer invoices Excel spreadsheets for an imaginary sales analyst role, or AI’s ability to create a full production schedule for a 60-second video shoot for an imaginary video producer.
    Jared Perlo, NBC news, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • For many people in the country, and certainly critics of the royal family, these moves might not be enough to rehabilitate the monarchy’s tarnished reputation.
    Max Foster, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
  • With its sadistic violence, taboo sexuality, and grim depiction of postwar London, Peeping Tom was a flop that essentially ended the illustrious career of director Michael Powell, falling into obscurity until Martin Scorsese rescued it and rehabilitated its reputation with a 1979 rerelease.
    Katie Rife, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mend. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on mend

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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