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
1
as in stimulating
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 sustaining
to hold up or serve as a foundation for
several boards braced the wall
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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Recent Examples of bracing
Richard Lawson, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
Still, if the goal of a certain kind of big-swing public-intellectual book is to afflict the comfortable, then this book is a bracing way to afflict yourself, for the low price of thirty-five dollars.
—Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 14 Dec. 2024
Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Virginia, which has more data centers than any other state, is bracing for major electric rate increases after having seen electricity costs rise by only about 3 percent over the last year.
—Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bracing
Adjective
The film is trying quite hard to be a bracing and immersive depiction of rehabilitation’s hard toil.
—Richard Lawson, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
Still, if the goal of a certain kind of big-swing public-intellectual book is to afflict the comfortable, then this book is a bracing way to afflict yourself, for the low price of thirty-five dollars.
—Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 14 Dec. 2024
Verb
While some parts of Michigan are bracing for 4 or more inches of snow this weekend, Detroit residents are likely only to see about 1 inch, the National Weather Service says.
—Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Virginia, which has more data centers than any other state, is bracing for major electric rate increases after having seen electricity costs rise by only about 3 percent over the last year.
—Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bracing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bracing
Adjective
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After spraying just one time, the standout aspect of this product was without a doubt its distinct, refreshing smell.—
Caché McClay,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
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With its welcoming small-town charm, strong sense of community, and sweeping views of the Sierra Nevada, the destination is wine country with a refreshing twist.—
Essence,
Essence,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Aside from giving each strain their unique smell, terpenes also contribute to effects where some may be sedating (linalool, terpinene, myrcene), stimulating (limonene, pinene) and have medicinal benefits (caryophyllene, beta caryophyllene).—
Carly Fisher,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
29 Oct. 2025
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Save more serious, heavier pruning for shaping and stimulating new growth for late winter or spring.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Western governments have imposed sanctions on her in the past for her part in sustaining Maduro’s administration.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
6 Jan. 2026
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Puig first tore the ACL in his left knee in the Western Conference final in 2024, assisting on the game’s only goal after sustaining the injury.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The moniker beaver moon marks the time of year when beavers begin preparing for the winter by fortifying dams and lodges and stocking up on food.—
Gina Park,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
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Meanwhile, the All’s Fair actress and soon-to-be-attorney has been quietly fortifying her Hidden Hills compound.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Participating high schools, including Oakland Tech High School in Oakland and Mission Hills High School in San Marcos, adapted their peer support programs to school-specific goals such as providing restorative alternatives to suspensions and teaching students conflict resolution skills.—
Vani Sanganeria,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Jan. 2026
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Plus, find more replenishing and restorative skincare products at Amazon below.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Like something stirring within a stone, or the stone itself.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
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The feature opens as Magda’s son returns from the front to this world without men, with his arrival stirring a growing unease among the group.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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China last tested its ICBM force in September 2024—its first since the 1980s—when a DF-31AG missile carrying a dummy warhead was fired toward international waters in the South Pacific, within the region's nuclear-free zone, according to a Newsweek map.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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The Falcon 9's upper stage, meanwhile, continued carrying the 29 Starlink satellites toward LEO, where were deployed on schedule about an hour into flight.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The Corps proposed strengthening the bank by implementing riprap, or rocks.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
8 Nov. 2025
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According to the National Weather Service, a strengthening cold front is making its way across the country toward Nashville.—
Diana Leyva,
Nashville Tennessean,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bracing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bracing. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
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