as in to harden
to make stronger (as through hardship)
She was annealed by the tragedies of her childhood.
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Recent Examples of anneal
The system will form the backbone of a long-term partnership between FAU and D-Wave, which provides both annealing and gate-model quantum computing platforms.
—
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 28 Jan. 2026
The glass sheets spend 45 minutes in a machine called an annealing oven cooling to around 200 degrees.
—Christine Tannous, IndyStar, 13 Nov. 2025
Engineers sparingly tried annealing hardware space, so Juno's experience could be instructive for future missions.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025
Some annealing quantum-type computers are already commercialized.
—Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025
They’re served in a heap in a bowl, the logs of potato annealed, shiny and splotched with balsamic vinegar.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2025
Workable quantum solutions that make use of annealing systems are now in use.
—Chuck Brooks, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2025
After annealing, the links are strong covalent bonds [below].
—IEEE Spectrum, 11 Aug. 2024
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 28 Jan. 2026
The glass sheets spend 45 minutes in a machine called an annealing oven cooling to around 200 degrees.
—Christine Tannous, IndyStar, 13 Nov. 2025
Engineers sparingly tried annealing hardware space, so Juno's experience could be instructive for future missions.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025
Some annealing quantum-type computers are already commercialized.
—Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025
They’re served in a heap in a bowl, the logs of potato annealed, shiny and splotched with balsamic vinegar.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2025
Workable quantum solutions that make use of annealing systems are now in use.
—Chuck Brooks, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2025
After annealing, the links are strong covalent bonds [below].
—IEEE Spectrum, 11 Aug. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anneal
Verb
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Enterprises that spent years hardening endpoints, strengthening identity controls and building sophisticated security operations centers are now layering AI capabilities on top of existing environments without adapting the controls needed to govern them securely.—
Emil Sayegh,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
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Dark lunar maria are visible sprawling across the moon's surface, where lava once rose to the surface before hardening to form enormous basaltic plains.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Environmental advocates, however, argue the RMP helps protects residents near chemical facilities by requiring preventative safety measures and should be strengthened and expanded, according to the Coalition to Prevent Chemical Disasters.—
Jason Henry,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
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Still, the web will likely remain heavily censored, experts warned; Tehran is reportedly using Chinese hardware to strengthen its censorship capabilities, further proof that Beijing is exporting the technology that powers its cutting-edge firewall.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
29 May 2026
Verb
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Cereals are usually fortified with B vitamins, folic acid, and iron.—
Jennifer Lefton,
Verywell Health,
1 June 2026
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Unknown to the Americans, and unspotted by their air reconnaissance, Peleliu is full of deep underground cave networks, which the Japanese had fortified and stocked with food, water and ammunition.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
Verb
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To get it across the finish line, Democrats — especially progressives — had to temper their expectations.—
Lauren Victory,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
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But just like last year’s in-episode PSA urging fans to be kinder, the message did little to temper online fervor.—
Angela Yang,
NBC news,
31 May 2026
Verb
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The result is a relentless flood of advice that derives its authority not from expertise but from personal testimony, endlessly reinforcing the idea that your feelings are your most important parenting instrument.—
Nina Bandelj,
Chicago Tribune,
6 June 2026
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Choose the modest fix that reduces strain, then let that improvement reinforce the larger plan.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Anneal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anneal. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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