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
Over the next five years, real value will come from applying quantum principles, such as annealing and probabilistic optimization, to supply chains, finance and logistics before fault-tolerant quantum arrives.
—
Pravir Malik,
Forbes.com,
12 Feb. 2026
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
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
Pravir Malik,
Forbes.com,
12 Feb. 2026
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
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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The company is offering several products at no cost for a limited period or at a 90% discount on one-year term licenses, targeting customers who need to further harden Oracle Database environments but have delayed investment due to cost, complexity, or procurement friction.
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As that assumption erodes, attention has shifted from hardening GPS toward security through diversification.
Verb
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Communicate early, and friendships strengthen naturally.
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Practical choices now strengthen long-term confidence.
Verb
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MonthiraYodtiwong/Getty Images Few sources of income are as legally fortified as a federal disability check.
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The Greens made a key alliance with the Triarchy to fortify its naval forces.
Verb
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While most fans and pundits view Brazil as the clear favorite in Friday’s game against Haiti, the team’s coach and one of its star players sought to temper those expectations.
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Borrowers hoping for immediate relief from high credit card rates may want to temper their expectations.
Verb
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Looking back, McCloskey said the yearslong legal battle reinforced the value of perseverance.
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If anything, Messi’s early absence reinforced why Argentina will enter the knockout stage as one of the favorites to win the tournament.
Cite this Entry
“Anneal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anneal. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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