mend

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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

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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

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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 Whereas Biden sought to mend the nation’s racial divisions after the George Floyd protests, Trump built his revanchist second presidency on the demonization of diversity. Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2025 Remove Contents, Make Repairs, and Treat Stains Empty the cubes completely and make any necessary repairs, such as trimming loose threads or mending tears, before laundering. Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 June 2025 Earlier this month, Miley spoke candidly about mending her relationships with both Billy Ray and Tish. Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 11 June 2025 Trump’s remarks are among his most extensive public comments yet on his feud with Musk, and the latest sign that the president is not interested in mending his relationship with the onetime ally. Erin Doherty, CNBC, 7 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for mend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mend
Verb
  • Since then, crews have been working to repair the damages to the grounds as quickly as possible.
    Christina House, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2025
  • The doctors quickly sent the man into emergency surgery to repair his esophagus.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • A good night's sleep helps your body recover, regulate hormone production, and maintain a well-functioning metabolism.
    Lindsay Curtis, Health, 30 June 2025
  • Authorities in Kootenai County, Idaho, said the body of the man recovered on the mountain is believed to be the only suspect responsible for the deadly shootings.
    Brittney Melton, NPR, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • Our programmatic work is designed to heal whole communities.
    Asha Bandele, Essence, 25 June 2025
  • Regardless of who emerged from Tuesday’s runoff, the seating of a new councilmember promised to help heal the distrust and wounds opened up by scandals that had shrouded the District 3 office.
    Devan Patel, Mercury News, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • Not only does this type of pain point to an underlying injury, pushing through can lead to a secondary injury, because other muscles and tissues absorb extra stress to compensate.
    Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 23 June 2025
  • It was created with a single question in mind: Why do most work boots fail the people who wear them every day? Uncomfortable fits, tight toe boxes, and poor longevity have often left many tradespeople compensating.
    Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 22 June 2025
Verb
  • Built on the same Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip and 8GB of RAM as the Quest 3, the 3S boasts high-fidelity hand tracking, full-color passthrough and improved thermal efficiency.
    Anna Tingley, Variety, 1 July 2025
  • In the wake of three-point shooting forward Duncan Robinson’s decision to exercise the early-termination in his contract for next season to become an unrestricted free agent, the Miami Heat enters free agency with a bit of flexibility to improve its roster despite nearly having a full roster.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • These cement mixes still need to prove themselves under real-world conditions, such as curing, durability, supply chain fit, and compliance with global standards like EN 197-1.
    Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
  • This might take the pressure off enough to cure any fear paralysis.
    Kate McKean June 20, Literary Hub, 20 June 2025
Verb
  • The current rumors are that Apple is willing to pay upwards of $20 billion for a startup to fix its AI strategy—potentially its largest acquisition ever.
    R. Scott Raynovich, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • Turns out what landed him there wasn’t that serious: Beckham underwent a procedure to fix an old injury.
    Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • For the past 20 years, conservationists in Spain worked to rehabilitate their European beaver populations and eventually noticed beavers living closer and closer to the border with Portugal, the organization said.
    Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 13 June 2025
  • Carl Lopp, repeatedly since taking ownership of the property in 1988, promised to rehabilitate the facility with little to show for, one Unified Government commissioner told The Star.
    Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 11 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Mend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mend. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.

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