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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Relevance

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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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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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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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

Chair Yoga is a type of yoga that is modified to allow participants to perform all exercises seated. —

Kris Slugg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2026 The 3-by-5 strength training protocol involves choosing 3–5 exercises, doing 3–5 sets of 3–5 reps, and resting for 3–5 minutes in between. —

Jenessa Connor, Health, 1 May 2026 For example, Harvard University's commencement exercises will be held on Thursday, May 28. —

Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 1 May 2026 Each robot undergoes over 80 functional tests, including stress and burn-in exercises such as squats and jogging, to eliminate early failures. —

Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 30 Apr. 2026 Find healthy ways to cope with stress, such as meditation, mindfulness exercises, yoga, and breathing exercises. —

Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 30 Apr. 2026 Carpentersville firefighters this week are using a vacant home at 14 Golfview Lane for training exercises. —

Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026 The instructor will start off by giving attendees a prompt to spark creativity along with stress-reducing breathing exercises. —

Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026 Reservists in the Netherlands commit to 300 hours of service each year, including regular weekend exercises. —

ABC News, 29 Apr. 2026

Verb

Whether or not the mayor exercises that power is subjective, Bounds said. —

Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2026 The result looks a bit like the internet sensation the Crooked Man, who exercises his left trapezius and nothing else. —

Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026 Relaxation exercises Stress-reduction techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, and tensing and relaxing muscle groups can calm the nervous system and help patients feel more in control of their symptoms, says Moss. —

Mark Marino, PEOPLE, 14 Apr. 2026 Organized crime exercises de facto control over vast swaths of the country, where the discovery of clandestine graves is commonplace, and thousands of corpses remain unidentified in morgues and public cemeteries. —

Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026 While the client is alive, Trinity exercises power of attorney. —

Terry Savage, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026 During one of the sobriety exercises, Woods repeatedly moved his head despite instructions to keep it still, requiring deputies to correct him several times, according to the report. —

Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026 Limited exercise Maduro Guerra also claimed that his father exercises every day. —

María Santana, CNN Money, 25 Mar. 2026 Strength training exercises two to three times per week. —

Lindsay Curtis, Verywell Health, 9 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for exercises

Noun

Wanda Enos Bachelor is on the board of the Indigenous Futures Society, which advocates for Indigenous ecological practices that were erased during the gold rush.

— Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Tung also offered advice for consumers seeking to avoid unknowingly supporting such practices.

— Jay Ganglani, NBC news, 3 May 2026