as in to use
to put into action or service
huge dams harness the power of water to produce electricity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 harness
Neoliberal capitalism is trying to harness the psyche as a productive force.
—
Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
Understanding and harnessing the power of the dark matter of RNA requires a project on the scale of the Human Genome Project.
—Marlene Belfort, The Conversation, 10 Feb. 2026
The machine would have a form of intelligence that users could harness to enhance their own.
—Big Think, 9 Feb. 2026
Walking off the field at halftime, McCourty was prepared to do all the yelling and screaming necessary to harness his team’s energy in the locker room, but one key twist halted that thought.
—Jeff Howe, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for harness
Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
Understanding and harnessing the power of the dark matter of RNA requires a project on the scale of the Human Genome Project.
—Marlene Belfort, The Conversation, 10 Feb. 2026
The machine would have a form of intelligence that users could harness to enhance their own.
—Big Think, 9 Feb. 2026
Walking off the field at halftime, McCourty was prepared to do all the yelling and screaming necessary to harness his team’s energy in the locker room, but one key twist halted that thought.
—Jeff Howe, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for harness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harness
Verb
-
Trump has repeatedly threatened to use force to compel Iran to agree to constrain its nuclear program and over Tehran's crackdown on nationwide protests.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Discoverability, most people just use algorithms to find music nowadays.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
To review or object to instances where our partners assert a legitimate interest in utilizing your data, please visit our vendors page.—
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
13 Feb. 2026
-
In the costuming department, the show utilized more than 1,000 yards of fabric and 1/2 mile of fringe with 90 types of fabrics represented.—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Republicans understand this gap and are exploiting it ruthlessly.—
Julian Baron,
Baltimore Sun,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Investigators believe the husband ruthlessly exploited his wife on a large scale, prosecutor Ida Annerstedt said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The task force is now applying that same regional coordination model to World Cup preparations.—
Cierra Morgan,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
-
For nails and hair On the hair, rosehip oil can be applied to the ends, preferably diluted with a carrier oil like argon oil, to add shine and help control frizz.—
Beatrice Zocchi,
Vogue,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The company employs around 10,000 people.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Around 20% of Americans aged 65 and older are employed—nearly double the share of those who were working 35 years ago—according to a 2024 analysis from Pew Research Center.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Harness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harness. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
