APPLYING Synonyms: 142 Similar and Opposite Words

applying

verb

present participle of apply

as in relating

to have a relation or connection does your rule about calling home apply to me as well?

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Relevance

as in devoting

to occupy (oneself) diligently or with close attention Sam applied himself to writing thank-you letters to everyone who'd helped sponsor him for the charity walk

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as in spreading

to put a layer of on a surface apply the ointment liberally

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as in using

to put into action or service apply the laws of motion to this physics problem

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as in exerting

to bring to bear especially forcefully or effectively apply pressure to the area to stop the bleeding

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as in enforcing

to carry out effectively a police officer applying the law

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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 applying Instead of a pomade stick, Tauber recommends using Oribe Gel Sérum on coils, applying a generous amount around the hairline before smoothing it back with a boar bristle brush. — Marci Robin, Allure, 21 Aug. 2026 Before applying, make sure the lender offers loans for your specific trade school or career program. — Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026 Those options could include applying for the necessary permits and going through the county's review process. — Steve Large, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026 Unyielding rout for bonds Global bond yields are holding near multi-decade highs, applying downward pressure to stock markets from Japan to New York. — Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 19 Aug. 2026 Volunteers then partially recreated Warhol’s studio protocol by applying urine to the mockups with pipettes. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Aug. 2026 The third tier involves applying to prestigious programs and industry contests to gain recognition and awards. — Behnam Shakibaie, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 One counterargument to the policy of applying economic pressure is that the US has been sanctioning Iran, like a handful of other nations, for decades without sparking meaningful political change. — Magdalena Del Valle, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2026 When China’s bloated property sector began to crater in 2021, Beijing punted again, rebalancing by applying its industrial policy to high-value manufacturing—EVs, batteries, solar modules, and semiconductors. — Michael B. G. Froman, Foreign Affairs, 13 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for applying

Verb

Relationship science draws a useful line here between two ways of relating.

— Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Presenting one idea, and then relating it back to something political.

— Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 30 July 2026

Definition of relating

Verb

Advisors can use technology to automate routine work, reinforce discipline and enhance consistency while devoting more time to relationships, decision making and portfolio construction.

— Alex Shahidi, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
As a result, many web hosting services offer the platform, with WP Engine devoting all its resources to it.

— Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of devoting

Verb

The study is ongoing, but interim results found the treatment, Intismeran, met both its primary target of reducing cancer recurrence and its secondary ⁠goal of keeping cancers from spreading to other parts of the body.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
Getty Images As wildfires sweep Europe and North America, falsehoods about their causes and the nature of climate change are spreading like, well, wildfire.

— David Vetter, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of spreading

Verb

In Texas, lawmakers have been exploring a ban on foreign nationals using Texas surrogates – a move surrogacy experts worry could be the first step toward a statewide ban on the practice.

— Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
The Triglav Lodge, Slovenia's highest-altitude guest hut at an elevation of 2,515 meters (8,251 feet), is using paper plates this summer to save water on dishes.

— CBS News, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of using

Verb

In an interview with Fox News' Trey Yingst, Kushner said the president was focused on exerting economic pressure on Iran and ensuring Tehran cannot build a nuclear weapon.

— August 18, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
Congress should also reestablish more authority over the United States’ wars, first by exerting more power over military spending.

— Emma Ashford, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of exerting

Verb

Using birdwatching and policy data from more than 2,300 counties across China, a new analysis found that areas with stricter policies enforcing solar energy development have seen decreases in bird diversity over the last 10 years.

— Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 2026
The other three majors have guardrails in place, from enforcing resales at face value to not permitting them at all.

— Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of enforcing

Verb

The chaotic off-season in college football has continued to play out in court rooms across the country, as athletes are suing the NCAA on a daily basis pertaining to their eligibility as part of the 2022 class.

— Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026
The county has declined to release records pertaining to Moody’s case, despite releasing similar records in the past.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of pertaining

Verb

For shopper Kori Farmer, The Grocery Spot helps stretch her budget while giving her access to fresh food close to home.

— Jamal Goss, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
The crisis is giving new urgency to an energy problem that Bangladesh’s garment manufacturers were already confronting.

— Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 19 Aug. 2026