1
as in supports
a structure that holds up or serves as a foundation for something else
wore a brace for the injured knee
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in pairs
two things of the same or similar kind that match or are considered together
bagged a brace of pheasants
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in stimulates
to give life, vigor, or spirit to
the pep talk braced the team up for the second half
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in carries
to hold up or serve as a foundation for
several boards braced the wall
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in fortifies
to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally
she braced herself for the job interview
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of braces
Paul Flahive, Austin American Statesman, 2 Mar. 2026
The Everyday Appeal of Tennis Bracelets Tennis braces were once reserved for formal events.
—Malana Vantayler, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026
The rebar inside looked like rusted braces without teeth.
—Danielle Paquette The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 17 Feb. 2026
The results point to a future where things like knee braces, exoskeletons, or even joint replacements could be tailored to an individual’s exact joint motion.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 9 Feb. 2026
But what did people do before braces were invented?
—Sara Kiley Watson, Popular Science, 4 Feb. 2026
Harmon frequently treks through the desert, wearing ankle braces and an orange safety vest, chatting with Border Patrol agents who appear to have taken to her.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026
In anti-vaccine circles, the official story of polio—iron lungs, kids with leg braces, the triumph of Jonas Salk—has long been dismissed as misleading.
—Tom Bartlett, The Atlantic, 28 Jan. 2026
Another complaint said a woman in a wheelchair received braces from the company but did not order them and can’t use them due to her mobility issues.
—Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2026
Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2026
The office is intended to make more of those second chances possible as North Texas braces for decades of job growth.
—Wilborn P. Nobles Iii, Dallas Morning News, 27 Feb. 2026
Zoo braces for impact Relatively speaking, the Ichikawa City Zoo is a small institution, home to about 44 different types of mammals, birds and reptiles, according to the zoo's website.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 25 Feb. 2026
Merck is shaking up the leadership of its main pharmaceutical unit as the drugmaker braces for sales pressure later this decade, The Wall Street Journal reports.
—Ed Silverman, STAT, 23 Feb. 2026
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill declared a state of emergency effective Sunday at noon as the state braces for up to 20 inches of snowfall.
—Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 21 Feb. 2026
These are claimed to ensure proper body positioning as the paddler braces their feet and knees (depending on stance) against them, although their selling points don't stop there.
—New Atlas, 19 Feb. 2026
As the Bay Area braces for Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl XL halftime show, the anti-ICE celebrations have already commenced.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 7 Feb. 2026
The South Carolina Department of Public Health (SCDPH) has confirmed a second death from last weekend's winter storm as the state braces for more extreme weather in the coming days.
—Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Noun
Shaw and Bosco built another company together called SB Tactical, which produces controversial arm braces for guns.
—Paul Flahive, Austin American Statesman, 2 Mar. 2026
The Everyday Appeal of Tennis Bracelets Tennis braces were once reserved for formal events.
—Malana Vantayler, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026
The rebar inside looked like rusted braces without teeth.
—Danielle Paquette The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 17 Feb. 2026
The results point to a future where things like knee braces, exoskeletons, or even joint replacements could be tailored to an individual’s exact joint motion.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 9 Feb. 2026
But what did people do before braces were invented?
—Sara Kiley Watson, Popular Science, 4 Feb. 2026
Harmon frequently treks through the desert, wearing ankle braces and an orange safety vest, chatting with Border Patrol agents who appear to have taken to her.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026
In anti-vaccine circles, the official story of polio—iron lungs, kids with leg braces, the triumph of Jonas Salk—has long been dismissed as misleading.
—Tom Bartlett, The Atlantic, 28 Jan. 2026
Another complaint said a woman in a wheelchair received braces from the company but did not order them and can’t use them due to her mobility issues.
—Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2026
Verb
As South Florida braces for yet another spring break tourist deluge, here are 85 restaurants, bars and food trucks spanning Broward to Palm Beach counties waiting to serve them all with spotless kitchens.
—Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2026
The office is intended to make more of those second chances possible as North Texas braces for decades of job growth.
—Wilborn P. Nobles Iii, Dallas Morning News, 27 Feb. 2026
Zoo braces for impact Relatively speaking, the Ichikawa City Zoo is a small institution, home to about 44 different types of mammals, birds and reptiles, according to the zoo's website.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 25 Feb. 2026
Merck is shaking up the leadership of its main pharmaceutical unit as the drugmaker braces for sales pressure later this decade, The Wall Street Journal reports.
—Ed Silverman, STAT, 23 Feb. 2026
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill declared a state of emergency effective Sunday at noon as the state braces for up to 20 inches of snowfall.
—Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 21 Feb. 2026
These are claimed to ensure proper body positioning as the paddler braces their feet and knees (depending on stance) against them, although their selling points don't stop there.
—New Atlas, 19 Feb. 2026
As the Bay Area braces for Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl XL halftime show, the anti-ICE celebrations have already commenced.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 7 Feb. 2026
The South Carolina Department of Public Health (SCDPH) has confirmed a second death from last weekend's winter storm as the state braces for more extreme weather in the coming days.
—Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for braces
Noun
-
What skills, supports or alternatives were unavailable?—
Gwilym Roddick,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Mar. 2026
-
These life-size sculptures are fixed to walls with metal supports, placed on chairs to register bodily scale, or positioned on the floor in juxtaposition with larger compositions.—
Li Qi,
Artforum,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The eight-team tournament opens with a pair of first-round games on Wednesday.—
Dan Arritt,
Oc Register,
11 Mar. 2026
-
But in less than an hour, their lives would drastically change as the pair would be arrested for throwing homemade bombs during an anti-Muslim protest outside of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s home.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Another natural extract, from silk cotton tree flowers, stimulates the natural production of hyaluronic acid and helps water enter the skin cells.—
Justin Fenner,
Robb Report,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Umami stimulates saliva secretion and helps with appetite.—
Amy Brownstein,
Verywell Health,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Casap may never change after ‘horrific’ crimes First-degree intentional homicide carries a mandatory life sentence.—
Todd Richmond,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Finally, many families will need to analyze whether to invest alone or with partners – a decision that carries its own set of advantages and trade‑offs.—
Belinda G. Schwartz,
Fortune,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Adding keratin back into hair fortifies the strands ultimately yielding stronger, healthier hair.—
Sophie Wirt,
InStyle,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Trading for Vucevic fortifies Boston’s front court–and provides a valuable play-making skill set to complement Jaylen Brown in a season worthy of MVP consideration.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Amid the latest injury concerns, the Heat were bolstered by a pair of reinforcements.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The long-running campaign against smoking could find reinforcements from the new wave of research into psychedelics.—
Will Stone,
NPR,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Those checking in seemed to be young couples, families visiting New York University, and a few coworkers on business trips.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Mar. 2026
-
For example, individual filers can receive up to $994, couples filing jointly can receive $1,491, and those providing essential care to SSI recipients can receive up to $498.—
Asher Notheis,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In this scenario, stripped of high-paying salaries, prime borrowers default and tank the $13 trillion residential mortgage market, unemployment spikes above 10%, the stock market corrects down 38%, and the economy collapses into a deflationary spiral.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
28 Feb. 2026
-
That dynamic played out clearly during the 2008 financial crisis, the pandemic market dips and again during the recent volatility spikes.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Braces.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/braces. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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