1
as in to repair
to put into good shape or working order again
that shirt will be as good as new when I'm finished mending it
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2
as in to recover
to become healthy and strong again after illness or weakness
she's mending after a particularly nasty bout of the flu
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3
as in to heal
to restore to a healthy condition
mended the broken plant so that it was soon thriving again
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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
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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
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6
as in to cure
to bring about recovery from
the old adage that only time can mend a broken heart
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mend
The Afghan and Pakistani governments have tried to mend the relationship in recent years, despite sporadic clashes and ongoing points of diplomatic tension.
—
Zia Ur-Rehman, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
Malcolm is understandably furious (and his uncle has only recently advised him that revenge is the best way to mend a broken heart).
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Oct. 2025
India does not officially recognize the Taliban, but the thawing ties could be a response to China’s efforts to mend relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan, analysts said.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 2025
Harry's best chance of mending the rift lies in him putting past disagreements behind him and focusing purely on his bond with Charles.
—Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mend
Zia Ur-Rehman, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
Malcolm is understandably furious (and his uncle has only recently advised him that revenge is the best way to mend a broken heart).
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Oct. 2025
India does not officially recognize the Taliban, but the thawing ties could be a response to China’s efforts to mend relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan, analysts said.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 2025
Harry's best chance of mending the rift lies in him putting past disagreements behind him and focusing purely on his bond with Charles.
—Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mend
Verb
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Now working for United Airlines as an avionics technician at Newark Liberty International Airport, repairing plane engines and electrical systems, the 25-year-old has already doubled her investment in the program and makes over six-figures.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
20 Oct. 2025
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The Wisconsin native was charged with repairing bridges within the department, campus and community that Addazio had neglected or damaged.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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No injuries were reported, but investigators recovered two pieces of shrapnel measuring approximately one to two inches long.—
Christina Shaw,
FOXNews.com,
20 Oct. 2025
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The plane has since been recovered and is undergoing further examination.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The challenge was to portray a journey of love, loss, grief, and healing through choreography and without dialogue.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
17 Oct. 2025
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Curing can toughen the skin, heal minor cuts, and extend its shelf life.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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By contrast, in states like Nevada, where more than 1,000 nuclear tests conducted in the 1950s and '60s exposed civilians to radiation, individuals have been compensated with up to $100,000.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Oct. 2025
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Setup ease comes courtesy of autofocus, keystone correction, fit-to-screen and a tool that can compensate for uneven surfaces.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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These mini-workouts break up long periods of sitting and may improve heart and muscle health, especially for inactive adults.—
Simon Spichak,
Health,
22 Oct. 2025
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That money is being taken away from habitat management, stocking and improving fisheries for anglers.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In the Muslim community, as in many other religious communities, mental health issues are seen as something that can be cured through spiritual channels.—
Lauren Costantino,
Miami Herald,
16 Oct. 2025
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In September, Altman shared dreams in a blog post that in the future, AI could cure cancer or provide customized tutoring to every student on earth.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Thanks to budget increases from the city government, Wright hired two employees who make house calls to encourage owners to get their animals fixed and mend fences so that dogs known to wander can’t get loose.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
16 Oct. 2025
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Live Translation, in aiming to fix all that messiness in an algorithm streamed through Bluetooth earbuds, is not opening human communication up so much as flattening it.—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Ingram said the trucks have gone through wear and tear, which may limit their ability to distribute water as water networks and wells are rehabilitated.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
15 Oct. 2025
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The judge stressed that the defendants should be rehabilitated rather than punished for their crime.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
15 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mend. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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