Synonym Chooser

How is the word fasten distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of fasten are affix, attach, and fix. While all these words mean "to make something stay firmly in place," fasten implies an action such as tying, buttoning, nailing, locking, or otherwise securing.

fasten the reins to a post

When is it sensible to use affix instead of fasten?

In some situations, the words affix and fasten are roughly equivalent. However, affix implies an imposing of one thing on another by gluing, impressing, or nailing.

affix your address label here

When could attach be used to replace fasten?

Although the words attach and fasten have much in common, attach suggests a connecting or uniting by a bond, link, or tie in order to keep things together.

attach the W-2 form here

When can fix be used instead of fasten?

While the synonyms fix and fasten are close in meaning, fix usually implies a driving in, implanting, or embedding.

fixed the stake in the ground

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 fasten But as the chase goes on, Mari takes off many of her layers, including her footwear; she’s left in just the nightie and Jackie’s necklace, which Shauna had fastened around her neck moments before. Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 11 Apr. 2025 This dog carrier can fasten to the front of your bike quickly and easily with its buckle design. Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2025 How to fix cable connection issues Check all cables and cords to make sure they are fastened properly. Kara McGinley, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2025 Ramps, sometimes called wild garlic or spring onions, have two, flat, broad green leaves about 10 inches tall, beneath which are white stalks fastened to small light-colored bulbs under the soil. Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fasten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fasten
Verb
  • The creator replaced it with a nearly identical bronze statue shortly after, but moved its location to private property nearby and attached it to concrete and metal rods.
    Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 16 May 2025
  • The attorney will take point dealing with all the legalities attached to the accident and will deal directly with the other driver’s insurance.
    LyssaNoel Frater, USA Today, 16 May 2025
Verb
  • Anthony Edwards and the Wolves are just one win away from securing some rest ahead of the Western Conference Finals after taking down the Lakers in five, though their success against the Warriors sans Stephen Curry does come with a caveat.
    Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025
  • Projecting power through expensive construction projects can also be a strategy for leaders seeking to secure their own hold on power.
    Ashley Gardini, JSTOR Daily, 13 May 2025
Verb
  • Imagine what that could mean at scale: a healthcare system focused on wellness, not crisis, as well as longer lives and a better quality of life.
    Lisa Loud, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
  • Today’s top talent is focused on contracts and opportunities directly tied to the game, as well as building careers, businesses, and platforms for influence that reach beyond the field.
    Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 12 May 2025
Verb
  • Hints of white came through in the outfit with cuffs peeking past her jacket sleeves and a pristine flower affixed to the side of her lapel.
    Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 16 May 2025
  • Theft of motor vehicle parts or accessories (subset of larceny) – The unlawful taking of any part or accessory affixed to the interior or exterior of a motor vehicle in a manner which would make the item an attachment of the vehicle or necessary for its operation.
    Baltimore Sun staff, Baltimore Sun, 16 May 2025
Verb
  • Fire firmly stayed clamped to Johnson’s arm, and did not let go until given a release command.
    Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Stimson worked quickly, cutting across the tissue of the thigh and clamping bleeding vessels along the way.
    Catherine Musemeche, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • What Smart Investors Should Watch Investors who prioritize signals over noise should concentrate on pressure points instead of headlines.
    Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
  • Solar thermal setups capture the Sun's heat rather than its light, use reflectors to concentrate sunlight onto a receiver, and convert solar radiation directly into heat energy.
    Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 18 May 2025
Verb
  • Without any restructures, that’s roughly 35 percent of the team’s salary cap tied to two players in the passing game.
    Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 19 May 2025
  • Which consumer loans could see higher rates Some loans could see more direct impacts because their rates are tied to bond prices.
    Annie Nova,Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 19 May 2025
Verb
  • Load it with lumber, hitch a trailer, or even drive into a strong headwind, and that figure can drop faster than your enthusiasm on a Monday morning.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 13 May 2025
  • Instead, women’s football has been hitched to the Festival Girl Power Summer brandwagon.
    Megan Feringa, New York Times, 13 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fasten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fasten. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on fasten

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!