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?

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in spreading

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in using

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in exerting

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in enforcing

to carry out effectively a police officer applying the law

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Researchers in China found that repeatedly applying gentle pressure to the shinbones of elderly mice improved their strength, coordination, and performance on memory tests. — New Atlas, 6 Nov. 2026 Of course, running this kind of remote frame generation on a linear video is very different from applying it to a real-time interactive game. — Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 5 Nov. 2026 Women and girls applying makeup or skincare while revealing the story of a best friend who betrayed them can temporarily break the doomscroll. — Chanté Joseph, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2026 The Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act requires written consent before a person’s biometric data is collected, and plaintiffs’ lawyers are applying that standard to facial-geometry scans in try-on tools. — Lauren Schuster, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026 When applying details, don’t press too hard with your dotting tools. — Christina Middleton, Allure, 4 Nov. 2026 But the people who have spent three seasons assigning that responsibility to Clark should explain why their standard apparently disappears when applying it would require them to make demands of Reese. — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2026 The number of Americans applying for unemployment claims dipped last week to 194,000 — the lowest since mid-July — as layoffs remain low and most Americans enjoy job security. — ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026 After the judge’s ruling, prosecutors considered applying a new Florida law that mandates death sentences for undocumented immigrants convicted of capital offenses, since Lopez Andrade is an undocumented Honduran national. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 29 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

Amanpour did not offer a reason for her departure, devoting most of her memo to thanking the production crews who worked with her over the years.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
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

Definition of devoting

Verb

What Florida would be choosing School vaccination requirements help communities establish herd immunity, which is when enough people are vaccinated to prevent a disease from easily spreading.

— Katrine L. Wallace, The Conversation, 30 Oct. 2026
These methods gained prominence in France during the 2016 labor protests before spreading further during the Yellow Vest movement.

— Saskya Vandoorne, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of spreading

Verb

After the issue was identified, the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office directed districts to pause electronic disbursements using BM Technologies and issue paper checks or other payment methods instead.

— Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 3 Nov. 2026
Its sweet, soft, umami-rich profile can shift the taste of a recipe, so Czerwony suggests using about half the usual amount of garlic and adjusting from there.

— Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of using

Verb

Solid economic growth and steady consumer spending are also exerting upward pressure on prices, complicating the task of taming inflation, according to economists.

— Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026
Bond yields in France, for example, ticked up to their highest levels since 2002 on Wednesday, exerting more pressure on government budgets.

— Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of exerting

Verb

This early risk awareness later defined his policy position, as Knot gained a reputation during his tenure as Dutch central bank governor for aggressively combating inflation, enforcing fiscal discipline, and safeguarding financial stability.

— , CNBC, 6 Nov. 2026
Kalshi sought preliminary injunctions to prevent New York and Connecticut from enforcing their gambling laws, but both requests were rejected by US district court judges.

— Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of enforcing

Verb

Anyone with information pertaining to the suspect is asked to contact KPD at (360)423-1270.

— Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2026
Miami Beach code compliance officers also checked on the polling station at least six times for possible loud music and signage code adherence pertaining to Basabe, although no violations were issued, records show.

— Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of pertaining

Verb

Tokyo’s national fusion strategy has channeled substantial public backing into private demonstration ventures, giving firms like Kyoto Fusioneering a springboard to pursue joint ventures across western markets.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2026
This was ideal for my family as our daughter could have her own room but not need a key to access our room, giving her a dash of independence.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Nov. 2026