exercises 1 of 2

noun

plural of exercise
1
as in practices
something done over and over in order to develop skill a young piano student dutifully going through the standard finger exercises

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2
as in uses
the act or practice of employing something for a particular purpose the observation that the best exercise for losing weight is the exercise of one's ability to say no to food

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

exercises

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of exercise
1
as in exerts
to bring to bear especially forcefully or effectively a senator who consistently exercises his clout in Congress to get pork barrel projects for his state

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2
as in drills
to do over and over so as to become skilled the only way to exercise your writing skills is to do more writing

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3
as in applies
to put into action or service commended the firefighters for exercising really good judgment in that emergency

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in alarms
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy the slightest change in travel plans is enough to get him all exercised

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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 exercises
Noun
The mindfulness content will include meditation exercises, but also content from doctors, therapists and psychologists, not to mention former ABC News correspondent Dan Harris, who left ABC five years ago to focus on his meditation company. — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2026 This also means participating in simulation exercises that test decision-making under pressure. — Susana Sierra, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026 Testing began with the weapon’s first flight in August 2025 and has included exercises with the US Army in the United States and overseas. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2026 Alongside the Rams’ Terrance Ferguson, the Saint was criminally undervalued throughout the fantasy draft season, often slipping well into the double-digit rounds in 12-team exercises. — Brad Evans, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026 During a recent rehearsal in Atlanta, Star worked through vocal exercises while moving around the room. — Jamal Goss, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026 Among those features will be meditation exercises created by Calm to help users process the day’s events. — Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026 Rachel Yve, who posted a 20-minute somatic sleep support session on InsightTimer, blends somatic exercises, breathwork and progressive muscle relaxation, including legs up the wall. — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2026 Hart also remembers taking notes on Flockhart's stretching routine and breathing exercises ahead of shows. — Kalia Richardson, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
Verb
Iran has supplied the Houthis with weapons and training, and exercises some influence on the rebel group’s decisions. — Nic Robertson, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026 In doing this, director and writer Jesse Eisenberg exercises his understanding of being both the actor and the director. — Cortlyn Kelly, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2026 As Senate President, Lawson exercises significant authority over the legislative agenda, including legislation governing public sector labor relations and the charter public school sector. — Katherine Gregg, The Providence Journal, 2 Sep. 2026 Out since mid-May, Palencia should participate in team exercises the first week of September. — Josh Gross, Daily News, 28 Aug. 2026 Marathe currently serves as the chairman of Leeds United and exercises 49ers Enterprises’ voting rights as a Director on the Leeds United Board, according to the Leeds United website. — Noe Padilla, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026 If elite athletes use a supplement, does that mean everyone who exercises should use it? — Adam Annaccone, The Conversation, 18 Aug. 2026 The results lend credence to the JAAC’s contention that polling alone cannot resolve who exercises meaningful political authority in Kashmir. — Aqil Shah, Time, 17 Aug. 2026 Power systems for the MK48 torpedo The first award exercises the fourth option year of an existing contract supporting the MK48 Mod 7 Heavyweight Torpedo program. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 9 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exercises
  1. practices
  2. uses
  3. exerts
  4. applies
  5. alarms
  6. lessons
  7. applications
  8. utilizes
Noun
  • Salt stomping fits neatly inside a growing bucket of low-cost, low-tech, screen-free wind-down practices that already includes bath rituals, breathwork and weighted blankets.
    — Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2026
  • At the team’s early-morning practices, many players flip between offense and defense to prepare for any situation, especially when there are even a few injuries.
    — Jesse Dougherty, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of practices
Noun
  • From ‘carrier pigeons’ to sophisticated weapons The first uses of drones for criminal purposes in Latin America were recorded in prisons, mainly in Brazil.
    — Sol Amaya, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Planning tool targets wider uses The researchers believe the approach could eventually be used beyond energy infrastructure.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of uses
Verb
  • Even for a famous masterpiece, the Bayeux Tapestry exerts an unusually powerful hold over the professionals who work with it.
    — John Phipps, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Nothing if not original, Werner Herzog’s Bucking Fastard casts Kate and Rooney Mara as Irish sisters who speak, think and move in unison, an impressive feat of disciplined acting that exerts its own peculiar fascination.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of exerts
Verb
  • This also applies to a free-agent acquisition like free-agent winger Vladimir Tarasenko, who (incredibly) remains a free agent at this time.
    — Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Judge Louis will consider whether the treaty applies to the case and determine if the evidence establishes probable cause.
    — Bill Chappell, NPR, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of applies
Verb
  • That prospect alarms those in Europe, who fear FIFA could increasingly challenge their competitions for space on an already overcrowded calendar.
    — Clemente Lisi, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • He becomes increasingly consumed by the otherworldly dimension, which alarms his therapist, Mary (Renate Reinsve).
    — Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 30 May 2026
Definition of alarms
Noun
  • Events at the center have ranged from tai chi to chair dancing, crafts, card games, social media lessons and classes on applying for Missouri’s Senior Property Tax Credit Program.
    — Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Dialogue comes from recordings with native speakers, and lessons focus on real-world scenarios like ordering food or navigating an airport instead of vocabulary drills.
    — StackCommerce Team, PC Magazine, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of lessons
Noun
  • The technology researchers are using is different from the mainstream popular applications of red-light therapy.
    — Mirin Fader, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The 2026/27 Global Breakthrough 360 cohort will comprise 50 places available, with applications open through a dedicated website before closing on September 18.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of applications
Verb
  • Tresnjak’s production, which utilizes the 1956 adaptation by Maurice Valency, centers on the small town of Güllen, which is facing financial ruin.
    — Jenelle Riley, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Metz’s essay observes how The Bear utilizes the similar techniques as previous Golden Age of Television series (like The Sopranos and Game of Thrones) to exaggerate small-scale conflict to melodramatic proportions.
    — Rolling Stone, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of utilizes

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exercises
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Cite this Entry

“Exercises.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exercises. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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