Synonyms of exercises

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• practices
• lessons
• drills
• trainings
• workouts
• routines
• homeworks
• assignments
• refreshers
• brushups
• reviews

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• uses
• applications
• usages
• operations
• plays
• employments
• exertions
• reuses

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• disuses
• nonuses

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• exerts
• uses
• applies
• wields
• plies
• utilizes
• employs
• puts out
• abuses
• misuses
• misapplies

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• practices
• drills
• repeats
• runs over
• prepares (for)
• points (for)
• trains (with)
• works (at or on)
• studies
• refines
• rehearses
• reviews
• perfects
• grooves

3

as in applies

to put into action or service

commended the firefighters for exercising really good judgment in that emergency

Synonyms & Similar Words

• uses
• applies
• utilizes
• exploits
• harnesses
• employs
• operates
• draws on
• brings to bear
• makes use of
• works
• handles
• wields
• manipulates
• directs
• runs
• recycles
• reuses
• cannibalizes

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ignores
• neglects
• misuses
• misapplies

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• alarms
• concerns
• worries
• bothers
• distracts
• disturbs
• haunts
• distresses
• plagues
• discomposes
• upsets
• discomforts
• agitates
• angers
• unsettles
• freaks (out)
• distempers
• disquiets
• annoys
• flurries
• undoes
• ails
• derails
• dismays
• frazzles
• rattles
• confuses
• perturbs
• unhinges
• weirds out
• irritates
• hagrides
• bugs
• aggravates
• fusses
• embarrasses
• exasperates
• discountenances
• nettles
• chivies
• puts off
• discourages
• abashes
• puts out
• harasses
• harries
• peeves
• grates
• chafes
• riles
• piques
• irks
• pesters
• vexes
• bedevils
• flusters
• mortifies
• disconcerts
• frets
• gets
• galls
• dispirits
• jars
• fazes
• shakes up
• nonpluses
• discomfits
• demoralizes
• confounds
• disheartens
• daunts
• unnerves

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• composes
• calms
• soothes
• settles
• quiets
• alleviates
• allays
• tranquilizes
• assuages
• appeases
• pacifies
• propitiates
• conciliates
• mollifies
• placates

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of exercises

Noun

Images from China over the years have shown a mockup of the presidential office, other government agencies and street layouts in Taipei built in the Chinese desert and troops attacking it in exercises. — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026

Her workouts typically consist of strength exercises, mixed with martial arts and outdoor activities like hiking and running. — Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026

That is part of Taiwan’s ongoing effort to make its exercises more realistic, following past criticism that some drills were too highly staged. — Reuters, NBC news, 5 Aug. 2026

The watch supports automatic and/or manual tracking for a wide range of activities, exercises, and sports. — Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 5 Aug. 2026

The 10-day Han Kuang exercises are set to be held in various locations around the island. — ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026

Many ex-addicts turn to religion, exchanging one inflexible code for another; John’s own post-heroin spiritual exercises were omnivorous. — Ian Penman, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026

Parsons then spends an hour on stretches and mobility exercises to keep his hip, ankles and other body parts healthy. — Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026

The exercises are designed to help Davis’ first responders improve coordination and cooperation during critical incidents. — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 31 July 2026

Verb

By contrast, Congress appropriates much of the public-private institution’s funding and exercises oversight over the institution, which is governed by a board of regents. — Kelsey Ables, The Atlantic, 23 July 2026

Lamine Yamal also complained about the readaptation exercises he was given after suffering a groin injury, but the situation blew up when Raphinha suffered multiple setbacks from a hamstring injury in October. — Pol Ballús, New York Times, 10 July 2026

In China, the central government exercises extensive oversight of universities and can steer academic priorities through national policy and funding decisions. — Anna Esaki-Smith, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026

Public power, meaning the authority government exercises on behalf of the people, does not originate with the president. — Stephanie A, The Conversation, 22 June 2026

Zellweger gained nearly 20 pounds to play the character, who drinks often and exercises intermittently. — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 13 June 2026

But Collins, who's been in the upper chamber since 1997 and exercises significant power as chair of the Appropriations Committee, has fended off a number of challenges from Democrats in previous cycles, including in 2020 when Joe Biden won the state. — Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 9 June 2026

If LaVine exercises his $49 million player option for next season, the Kings are projected to have a team payroll of about $225 million, which would put them well over the NBA’s luxury tax threshold of $201 million and above the second apron of $222 million. — Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 2 June 2026

The vessel is expected to participate in the upcoming Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) naval exercises off the coast of Hawaii later this year. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 28 May 2026