bracing 1 of 2

adjective

ˈbrā-siŋ How to pronounce bracing (audio)
Definition of bracingnext
as in refreshing
having a renewing effect on the state of the body or mind a chilly but bracing day

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bracing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of brace
1
as in stimulating
to give life, vigor, or spirit to the pep talk braced the team up for the second half

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sustaining
to hold up or serve as a foundation for several boards braced the wall

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3
as in fortifying
to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally she braced herself for the job interview

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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 bracing
Adjective
This was laid out in a bracing April 8 essay in The Washington Post by Amanda Sloat, an academic who has worked on the National Security Council and in the State Department. — U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026 Wilder is better known for comedies like Some Like It Hot, but The Lost Weekend is a bracing look at alcoholism that also won best picture and best actor for Ray Milland. — Jordan Hoffman, Vanity Fair, 16 Mar. 2026
Verb
Those pressures are real, but options traders have been bracing for bigger swings than the Nasdaq has delivered in recent weeks. — Julia Spina, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026 Southern California also is bracing to see what El Niño has in store this winter. — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bracing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bracing
  1. refreshing
  2. stimulating
  3. sustaining
  4. fortifying
  5. restorative
  6. stirring
  7. carrying
  8. strengthening
Adjective
  • Over a refreshing crudo and endive salad, Vera Wang laughed with Lance LePere.
    — Gaby Keiderling, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2026
  • This data isn’t new for Amazon, but sharing it directly with buyers is a refreshing strategy for the online retailer.
    — James Peckham, PC Magazine, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of refreshing
Verb
  • The team also gave the muscle a workout, stimulating it with light for 15 minutes a day at two pulses per second.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Head spas are credited with cleansing the scalp, stimulating blood flow, strengthening hair follicles and lowering stress and anxiety.
    — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of stimulating
Verb
  • The secretary of state said the negotiations must involve all sectors of Venezuelan society and ultimately produce not only free elections but also institutions capable of sustaining democracy over the long term.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026
  • When a storm, usually fed by unusually warm water, suddenly gathers a lot of strength, sustaining winds that increase in speed by at least 35 mph (56 kph) in 24 hours, it is called rapid intensification.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of sustaining
Verb
  • City officials have been frantically preparing for Rachel, building sand berms and fortifying vulnerable areas with sandbags.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
  • CISOs invested billions of dollars fortifying corporate inboxes with secure email gateways (SEGs), enforcing strict DMARC policies and conducting continuous phishing simulations for employees.
    — Firas Azmeh, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of fortifying
Adjective
  • Far away from the ceaseless whirring of small aircraft transporting tourists on aerial tours of the falls, this stillness, punctuated only by birdsong, feels beautifully restorative.
    — Charukesi Ramadurai, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026
  • By evening, Mars trines Neptune in your private 12th House, making quiet especially restorative.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of restorative
Verb
  • The story centers on two ex-lovers who come back into each other’s lives after spending decades apart, only to find old feelings stirring with messy and mixed results.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until browned all over and just cooked through, 3–4 minutes more.
    — Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of stirring
Verb
  • Nobody is accountable for carrying that signal across the business, another way of saying nobody owns it.
    — Jay Lee, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The cost of carrying a credit card balance and getting a car loan have also increased.
    — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of carrying
Verb
  • In his candidacy announcement, Jackson said his priorities include strengthening public safety and the city’s economy.
    — Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 12 Oct. 2026
  • This was on top of cutting the cost of doing business, and strengthening supply chains.
    — Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of strengthening

Browse Nearby Words

braces
bracing
bracket
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Cite this Entry

“Bracing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bracing. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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