EXERCISES Synonyms: 149 Similar and Opposite Words

exercises 1 of 2

noun

plural of exercise

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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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

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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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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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

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

India and China have also separately conducted anti-piracy drills, naval patrols, and maritime exercises with partner countries in the Indian Ocean. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 July 2026 Enforcement also matters; ethics rules without meaningful consequences can quickly become paperwork exercises. — Sean Stein Smith, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026 Care typically includes manual therapy, posture retraining and specialized exercises aimed at long-term relief and preventing further strain, according to Northeast Spine and Sports Medicine. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026 In Japan, earthquake safety is taught in schools from an early age, rehearsed in mandatory workplace drills and practiced in neighborhood evacuation exercises. — Andrei Popoviciu, The Dial, 21 July 2026 The Warner Family Foundation will provide scholarships for young students seeking to pursue a higher education in the arts, while River & Ember is an organization that offers seasonal toolkits with art and other exercises for parents and children. — Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 21 July 2026 The Cirqa Smart Band can track 80 activity types, with automatic detection of typical exercises such as running and walking, plus specialized modes for other activities such as archery and yoga. — James Peckham, PC Magazine, 21 July 2026 Bodyweight exercises build strength while improving stability and posture. — Jenessa Connor, Health, 21 July 2026 An easy way to keep your bones strong is doing weight-bearing exercises. — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 16 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for exercises

Noun

Joint practices More teams choose to use practices against other opponents to prepare their quarterbacks and key starters for the regular season instead of preseason games.

— Rob Maaddi, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2026
Although the advisory Guidelines technically recommended life imprisonment, actual federal sentencing practices painted a dramatically different picture.

— Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026

Definition of practices

Noun

Most of the debate asks how much water one AI query uses, then compares the answer with a teaspoon or a bottle.

— Robert J. Szczerba, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Of course, given the loose relationship between scholarship and Burroughs’ uses of it, all that may be beside the point for anyone reading his novels.

— Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 21 July 2026

Definition of uses

Verb

Although the Florida Bar continues to make recommendations, the governor exerts significant influence over those recommendations.

— Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 June 2026
Viewed from a distance, the pressure AI exerts on human artists appears as part of an evolutionary process that far predates its own invention.

— Tim Brinkhof, Time, 26 June 2026

Definition of exerts

Verb

Southampton were additionally given a four-point deduction that applies to the upcoming season in the Championship.

— Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 22 July 2026
The same caution applies to joint credit cards, where closing the account may require paying off the outstanding balance first.

— Ashley Lynch July 22, Charlotte Observer, 22 July 2026

Definition of applies

Verb

He becomes increasingly consumed by the otherworldly dimension, which alarms his therapist, Mary (Renate Reinsve).

— Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 30 May 2026
The focal point of escalating concern is oldest son Jeremy (Edik Beddoes) whose increasingly erratic behavior alarms those around him, not only for his safety but others as well.

— Randy Myers, Mercury News, 7 May 2026

Definition of alarms

Noun

Cots, bottle warmers, bottle sterilizing tablets, and bed guards are offered, as well as babysitting services, swimming lessons, complimentary non-motorized water sports, and blended baby food especially prepared by the chef.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 July 2026
As drone warfare becomes the new normal, analysts say all these adaptations and lessons from cities like Nikopol could inform the future of Western defense.

— Daria Tarasova-Markina, CNN Money, 18 July 2026

Definition of lessons

Noun

These innovations signal a shift from robotic spectacle to practical, everyday applications, emphasizing collaboration, accessibility, and human-robot comfort as robots integrate into our lives.

— Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 24 July 2026
Williams particularly loves them for applications where durability matters, such as bridal makeup or television and film.

— Marci Robin, Allure, 24 July 2026

Definition of applications

Verb

The result is fiber that utilizes pre- and post-consumer textile waste and carries both the Tencel brand and the Refibra technology designation.

— Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 23 July 2026
Additionally, their four-mic array utilizes AI to reduce background noise to make your voice sound clearer during phone calls, and the battery lasts up to eight hours, lasting through an entire workout session or work day.

— George Yang, PC Magazine, 23 July 2026

Definition of utilizes

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exercisers

exercises

exercising

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“Exercises.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exercises. Accessed 27 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of exercises

noun

verb

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