Choose the Right Synonym for amend

correct, rectify, emend, remedy, redress, amend, reform, revise mean to make right what is wrong. correct implies taking action to remove errors, faults, deviations, defects. correct your spelling rectify implies a more essential changing to make something right, just, or properly controlled or directed. rectify a misguided policy emend specifically implies correction of a text or manuscript. emend a text remedy implies removing or making harmless a cause of trouble, harm, or evil. set out to remedy the evils of the world redress implies making compensation or reparation for an unfairness, injustice, or imbalance. redress past social injustices amend, reform, revise imply an improving by making corrective changes, amend usually suggesting slight changes amend a law , reform implying drastic change plans to reform the court system , and revise suggesting a careful examination of something and the making of necessary changes. revise the schedule

Amend vs. Emend

The question of whether to use amend or emend is a vexing one for many people, complicated by the fact that the words sound quite similar and have meanings that overlap to a considerable degree. Both words can be used with the meanings “to improve” or “to correct,” but there are subtle differences. Emend is most often used in connection with changes to some form of written material, such as a text or manuscript; while such documents may also be described as amended, amend can apply to improvements or corrections made to things other than writing, as in “he amended his behavior.” The confusion is compounded by the fact that one of the most frequently encountered uses of amend is in reference to a document: the Constitution of the United States.

Examples of amend in a Sentence

The country's constitution was amended to allow women to vote. They voted to amend the law in 1920. He tried to amend the situation by apologizing to me.

Recent Examples on the Web The five-person board, which is also elected, voted 4 to 1 on Tuesday to place a measure on the ballot that, if approved by a majority voters, would amend the county charter to allow a sitting sheriff to be jettisoned. — Alene Tchekmedyianstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2022 The ballot question would amend the state Constitution, imposing a new surcharge of 4 percentage points onto the state’s 5 percent income tax for all individual earnings over $1 million. — Jon Chesto, BostonGlobe.com, 27 July 2022 The full Senate could amend the bill before voting on it Thursday as part of a special legislative session. — Harold Maass, The Week, 27 July 2022 The historic reforms amend one-third of the articles of the Kazakh Constitution, bolstering the role of Parliament, reestablishing a constitutional court, and putting an end to the former president’s powers and privileges. — Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 July 2022 But hours after the arraignment of Gershon Fuentes on a charge of felony first-degree rape was first reported by the Columbus Dispatch, the Fox hosts did not correct or amend their previous reporting, like The Post or the Journal did on Wednesday. — Timothy Bella, Washington Post, 14 July 2022 The Southern California Rental Housing Association says the city’s proposal, which would amend the municipal code, could partly counteract San Diego’s recent efforts to spur housing development. — David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 July 2022 The climate movement could pitch that a pro-climate Congress is needed to amend the Clean Air Act so that the EPA is able to regulate carbon emissions. — Nives Dolsak And Aseem Prakash, Forbes, 4 July 2022 Finally, citizens need to write, call or text their senators to encourage the finalization of the new bipartisan agreement to amend the Electoral Count Act. — Laurence H. Tribe And Dennis Aftergut, CNN, 20 June 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'amend.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.