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

In other words, someone who exercises regularly but also spends many hours each day watching television still has additional risks for worse cognitive health because of their passive sedentary behavior. — Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026

The European Union exercises great influence in fields such as data protection, competition, and food safety. — Mark Jia, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2026

The researchers hypothesized that routinely building cognitive maps exercises the very circuitry that Alzheimer’s attacks first. — Hatim Sharif, The Conversation, 6 Aug. 2026

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

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