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 Agarwal is effectively taking infrastructure developed around one of the most document-heavy and regulated consumer financial transactions and applying it to a wider collection of financial problems. — Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026 There is a special difficulty in applying just-war theory to wars between a powerful military and an insurgent group. — Jordi Graupera, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2026 The boy was a soccer player who was enchanted by the idea of camping in the woods; Charlotte was bright and cheery, sometimes applying glitter to her father’s mustache. — Abe Streep, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026 Anyone interested in applying for a job at the facility can learn more on Blue Bird's career site. — Dan Raby, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026 Immediately after applying, my skin looked softer and more hydrated—but to be fair, any good moisturizer can give you that instant gratification. — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 21 Oct. 2026 And this feels like the NFL is applying the Jedi mind trick on everyone regarding Tisch. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2026 This is an example of the Brussels Effect, in which rules adopted in the EU end up applying elsewhere. — Jordi Calvet-Bademunt, Washington Post, 21 Oct. 2026 Users should remove contacts before using Brytly and wait at least 10 minutes after applying the drops before inserting contacts again. — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 21 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for applying

Verb

Conflict with Indigenous peoples on the Maine frontier had sent traumatized refugees into the region, relating horror stories of attacks on their homes.

— Jennifer Byrne, Popular Science, 15 Oct. 2026
Vollmann was also pessimistic, relating that feeling comes from more than America’s current political issues, but also from the world’s environmental problems.

— Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of relating

Verb

The impact could be significant in terms of medical costs and devoting more funding toward actual care rather than other costs.

— Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026
The series tries to link all these women together into a tapestry of feminist frustration by devoting a few minutes at the beginning of each episode to an unnamed narrator telling different tales of misunderstood women throughout history.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of devoting

Verb

Demonstrations over corruption and a lack of jobs have begun spreading throughout Albania.

— Reuters, NBC news, 17 Oct. 2026
On top of these lawsuits, social media platforms are facing a loss of business as bans for minors are accelerating and spreading worldwide.

— Ari Lightman, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of spreading

Verb

With loans, there is an expectation that the campaign — using donor funds — will pay the candidate back, said Shanna Ports, a senior legal counsel for the nonpartisan watchdog group Campaign Legal Center.

— Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Learning from human demonstrations offers another way to develop skills by using examples of how a task should be performed.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of using

Verb

Subsequent trials in the late 1960s and ’70s eventually proved its effectiveness, and the drug ultimately was recognized for exerting strong antipsychotic effects with virtually no adverse impacts on motor function.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Oct. 2026
With broader crypto legislation stalling in Congress, regulators are exerting their existing powers to address individual parts of the market, said Jeff Ko, chief analyst at blockchain infrastructure service provider ViaBTC.

— Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of exerting

Verb

One criticism, which mirrors a plotline in the film, is that Ali G uses the character as a cover for enforcing racial stereotypes.

— Lacey Rose, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026
OutKick asked Bass whether the NBA has a role in overseeing or enforcing that provision, or whether enforcement is solely the WNBA’s responsibility.

— Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of enforcing

Verb

As the noise around college football continues to get louder pertaining to what is transpiring at Texas right now for Steve Sarkisian.

— Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Doctors, therapists, and scholars guide us through all things pertaining to our culture and mental wellness journeys.

— Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of pertaining

Verb

Ahead of the 2022 election, the prime minister helped broker an alliance between Ben-Gvir’s party and Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism, giving Netanyahu enough seats to assemble a government.

— Eric Cortellessa, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
Sánchez Bezos, the fund’s vice chair since its early days, has become a more visible face of the couple’s giving.

— Sydney Lake, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026