as in standing
rising straight up
a lone tree remained erect after the terrible tornado had passed
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to raise
to fix in an upright position
the tribes of the Pacific Northwest erected totem poles in front of their dwellings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to build
to form by putting together parts or materials
we'd better erect some sort of shelter before these woods are in total darkness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of erect
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 27 Feb. 2026
According to the woman Hernandez became erect while touching her back and stomach, then covered himself with a pillow, the affidavit read.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Feb. 2026
ABC News, 1 May 2026
The sculpture appeared to have been erected in the early hours of Wednesday on a plinth on a traffic island in Waterloo Place, near Buckingham Palace.
—Reuters, NBC news, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for erect
Adjective
The same rush to rename buildings, erect statues, hang massive banners of faces and publicly declare fealty to the leader in power is on display in North Korea, Cuba and the former Soviet Union.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 27 Feb. 2026
According to the woman Hernandez became erect while touching her back and stomach, then covered himself with a pillow, the affidavit read.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Feb. 2026
Verb
In addition to the locals, people from all over Bavaria and beyond flocked to the small village of about 4,500 residents on Friday to watch the Maypole being erected — a custom that has been observed for centuries and is deeply rooted in Bavarian folklore.
—ABC News, 1 May 2026
The sculpture appeared to have been erected in the early hours of Wednesday on a plinth on a traffic island in Waterloo Place, near Buckingham Palace.
—Reuters, NBC news, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for erect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for erect
Adjective
-
The sellout Garden arena gave a standing ovation as the ball found Josh Hart, who missed a wide-open corner three.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
5 May 2026
-
Phase 2 is the standing process with slightly longer prosthetics with no knee but with a longer and wider foot like a platypus.—
Lexi Lane,
PEOPLE,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
Diplomats said the two countries raised strong objections when the UN Security Council discussed it behind closed doors last week, Reuters reported.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
-
Independent reports have raised concerns about confusion and conflicts over who is ultimately accountable for education in California.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
Verb
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The project is particularly acrimonious, drawing out geographical battles between north and south and thorny fights between officials who want to build the tunnel and environmentalists and Delta residents seeking to protect the local ecosystem and their way of life.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
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If companies want to build data centers, for example, they should be required not only to absorb any electricity-cost increases but also to pay for upgrades to our grid infrastructure.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
The cropped shirt was buttoned to the collar, with short structured sleeves, fine vertical striping and the lower buttons left open above the waistband, with the trousers falling wide over the pumps.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
11 May 2026
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The score lacks variety but some of the staging from Michael Arden will blow many theatergoers away with its sheer ingenuity, given how this gifted director uses the soaring vertical space.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
As Pluto goes retrograde today, note a health or work crisis that habitually rears its head.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
-
Bost and her husband are raising two daughters in Calhoun, the same small river town dominated by the region’s multibillion-dollar carpet industry where she was reared.—
DYLAN JACKSON,
ABC News,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Designed by Chilean architect Felipe Assadi, the 14 villas and main lodge, constructed from native lenga wood, are indistinguishable from the treeline at a distance, a design feature that reflects the immersive ethos at the heart of the hotel.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 May 2026
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This adjustable sling bag has plenty of space for your phone, cash, keys, and other daily essentials, and is constructed with locking zippers to ward off potential thieves.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
That’s Week 9, so surely Atlanta will have its quarterback situation figured out and Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow will still be upright.—
Tyler Estep,
AJC.com,
13 May 2026
-
Adult black bears stand about three feet high on all fours and about five feet tall when upright.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Crewmembers aboard an Air Rescue Wing HH-60W Jolly Green helicopter, based at the 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick Space Force Base, hoisted the 11 victims from a life raft to safety, officials said.—
David K. Li,
NBC news,
13 May 2026
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Crews rigged a hoisting system using a ladder truck as a high point to raise the victim up to safety, according to fire officials.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Erect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/erect. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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