as in potential
often makings plural
the basic elements from which something can be developed
she has all the makings of an excellent leader, but she needs some experience first
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in producing
to bring into being by combining, shaping, or transforming materials
will you help me make the dough for the cookies?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in achieving
to obtain (as a goal) through effort
we finally made it!
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in creating
to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind)
the cats made quite a disturbance when they knocked the Christmas tree over
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4
as in fulfilling
to carry through (as a process) to completion
one person from each department will be asked to make a short presentation at the meeting
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5
as in forcing
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure
made him do all the work while everyone else just lounged around
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6
as in estimating
to decide the size, amount, number, or distance of (something) without actual measurement
I make that to be about six feet long
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7
as in constructing
to form by putting together parts or materials
make a model airplane
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8
as in seeming
to give the impression of being
the family made merry despite their financial worries
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9
as in heading
to go on a specified course or in a certain direction
the baby made straight for the toy lying on the rug
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10
as in enacting
to put into effect through legislative or authoritative action
the legislature failed to make any new laws last session
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11
as in earning
to receive as return for effort
I make considerably more money now than I did when I first started working here
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12
as in knowing
to have a clear idea of
what do you make of the latest information?
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13
as in shutting
chiefly dialect
to position (something) so as to prevent passage through an opening
make the gate when ye leave
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of making
C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2026
Kauffman’s paintings are built through layers of color, texture, and intuitive mark-making.
—Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
Star-Telegram Weather Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Apr. 2026
The mother, aside from her fervent devotion to Saint Cyrus, is sublimely practical, making fine clothes for others and above all for herself.
—Tim Parks, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for making
Noun
This story, though, isn’t only about shot-making.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2026
Kauffman’s paintings are built through layers of color, texture, and intuitive mark-making.
—Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
Verb
The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control.
—Star-Telegram Weather Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Apr. 2026
The mother, aside from her fervent devotion to Saint Cyrus, is sublimely practical, making fine clothes for others and above all for herself.
—Tim Parks, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for making
Recent Examples of Synonyms for making
Noun
-
Scientists have taken a particular interest in Antarctica's western shelf due to its potential to cause a significant rise in sea levels.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Sullivan laid out a two-part plan to help the 5-foot-11, 180-pounder maximize his potential, starting with an offseason program to add strength.—
Vincent Z. Mercogliano,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The conflict involving oil-producing Gulf states, and the effective closure of a critical oil and gas shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz, has sent oil prices surging globally over the past month.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
-
This hybridization resulted in Bradford producing fertile fruit through cross-pollination from other cultivars.—
Campbell Vaughn,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Super Mario Galaxy is achieving a number other milestones, including delivering the year’s biggest three-day opening of the year so far, a record held briefly by sleeper hit Project Hail Mary.—
Pamela McClintock,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Because convection heat is more intense, lowering the temperature to 375°F instead of 400°F may help prevent over-browning while still achieving crisp skins and tender centers.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Folk music à la Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen plays on repeat, creating a chill vibe for a crowd of regulars (many of who come twice a day).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Apr. 2026
-
The space was designed by her and her mother, Sabeen Khaliq, with the goal of creating tranquility.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Force majeure is a legal term that refers to unforeseeable circumstances preventing a company from fulfilling a contract.—
Stephanie Yang,
CNN Money,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The most creatively fulfilling campaigns to produce can often become those best suited to capture an audience’s imagination and, as a result, their attention.—
Paul Fitzgerald,
Rolling Stone,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
For small trucking companies, the increases are forcing difficult decisions.—
Brady Halbleib,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Instead of viewing constraints as blockers (budget, time, market conditions), treat them as forcing functions that sharpen decision-making.—
Lisa Song Sutton,
Rolling Stone,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The federal bill introduced large cuts to the nation’s Medicaid and food assistance programs, with the Congressional Budget Office estimating 10 million people will lose their health insurance by 2034.—
Keely Doll,
Louisville Courier Journal,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Inability to stay on GLP-1s is a longstanding issue due to factors such as difficulty accessing the drugs and gastrointestinal side effects, with one 2025 study estimating that around 65% of patients with obesity stop treatment within a year.—
Annika Kim Constantino,
CNBC,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Instead of constructing entire components from tungsten, researchers are focusing on applying thin tungsten layers onto more manageable base materials.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Katherine Schwarzenegger's video of action star husband Chris Pratt constructing a dollhouse for their daughters has generated a big response.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Making.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/making. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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