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 That scrutiny has been applied to researchers applying for new grants as well. — Anil Oza, STAT, 17 Sep. 2026 The number of people applying for unemployment benefits dropped sharply last week, another sign that layoffs remain rare and most Americans enjoy job security. — Paul Wiseman, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026 But then there are the times when the skin-care stars align—the feel, the smell, everything about the formula is so spot-on that just applying it is a win in and of itself. — Elizabeth Siegel, Allure, 17 Sep. 2026 Kansas City’s defense also delivered a strong performance, with the defensive line applying constant pressure on Broncos quarterback Bo Nix throughout the game. — Neil Nakahodo, Kansas City Star, 17 Sep. 2026 Patch test first by applying a small amount and waiting several days for any severe reaction. — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Sep. 2026 Davies recommends applying the same principle in everyday life. — Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 16 Sep. 2026 The billionaire chairman and CEO of WorldQuant has been a pioneer in applying AI and other technologies to vast collections of data, looking to build predictive models from historical information. — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 11 Sep. 2026 That is much more effective at killing roots than applying weed killer in the spring. — Manjot Kaur Sidhu, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for applying

Verb

The incentive would allow a 35% to 50% credit on qualified expenses relating specifically to post-production in California.

— Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Relationship science draws a useful line here between two ways of relating.

— Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of relating

Verb

There, students spend two hours per day on core subjects with an AI tutor before devoting their afternoons to workshops designed to hone skills like public speaking and relationship building.

— Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 10 Sep. 2026
Democrats are devoting resources, in particular, to the governors’ races in Georgia, Ohio, Iowa, and Nevada, all currently held by Republicans.

— Steven Sloan, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of devoting

Verb

The outbreak is spreading under extremely difficult conditions, fueled by insecurity, displacement, a health workers' strike and intense population movements.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Sep. 2026
The case was sparked by a nearly $800 million settlement Fox paid to Dominion Voting Systems, which accused the network of spreading conspiracy theories about fraud in the 2020 election.

— Maddy Lauria, NPR, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of spreading

Verb

Post-reaction analysis using scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, or SEM/EDX, also showed morphological and compositional changes in the catalyst samples.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 22 Sep. 2026
Spain highlighted incentives, investment, talent and infrastructure, while Greece stressed using international productions to build local capacity and training.

— Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of using

Verb

Taken to its most extreme logic of detachment from humanity, exerting the the will into a detachment from one’s physical life—the Romans called it suicide.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026
These active pups are happiest when spending ample time outdoors exerting themselves.

— Madeline Gunderson, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of exerting

Verb

For starters, Congress doesn’t have unlimited authority to preempt state laws or restrain states from enforcing their own laws.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 16 Sep. 2026
Conservatives laud her department for funding school-choice programs and enforcing parental rights across the country.

— Arthur Jones II, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of enforcing

Verb

The web portal will launch with a glossary of some 180 terms pertaining to AI designed to bring standardization to what has been an unruly moving target.

— Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026
Those are some of the main items pertaining to working conditions that were codified in a memorandum of understanding between the NHL and NHL Players’ Association in June 2025.

— Chris Johnston, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of pertaining

Verb

The senior House Democrat became a kingmaker for Biden by giving him momentum heading into Super Tuesday after Biden’s poor showing in the first three states.

— Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 16 Sep. 2026
Tech companies are racing to develop and train elder care robots to handle tasks ranging from giving massages to playing chess.

— HUIYEE CHIEW AND LYRIC LI THE WASHINGTON POST, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2026