as in used
to put into action or service
huge dams harness the power of water to produce electricity
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Recent Examples of harnessed
If harnessed correctly, AI is a superpower.
—
Michele Zanello, Rolling Stone, 17 Feb. 2026
Beyond creating the underlying models that generate code, AI is also being harnessed to create the interfaces that customers and developers outside the company use to write code.
—Jared Perlo, NBC news, 5 Feb. 2026
Over the years, as the area developed, the mill harnessed the force of the river to run a corn and flour mill, and later a hydroelectric power station.
—Paula Allen, San Antonio Express-News, 31 Jan. 2026
For proof, look to the number of designers who harnessed a primary color palette –– yellow, blue, and red –– in recent collections.
—Shelby Ying Hyde, Refinery29, 29 Jan. 2026
Fashion has long harnessed the symbolism of the horse, a recurring motif for brands including Gucci, Loro Piana, Versace, Dior, Celine and Stella McCartney.
—Gemma A Williams, Vogue, 28 Jan. 2026
Quantum computing, once theoretical, is now being harnessed to tackle previously unsolvable problems in fluid dynamics, design of new molecules and materials, and energy optimization.
—CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
Drawing on decades of experience in nuclear physics and accelerator technology, the institute has now harnessed tandem accelerator techniques to achieve complete independent design capability.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 19 Jan. 2026
The team also found that the reconstructed ancestral enzymes were easier to produce in micro-organisms, such as yeast cells, than modern-day types, which mean they can be harnessed to synthesize cannabinoids more efficiently.
—New Atlas, 10 Jan. 2026
Michele Zanello, Rolling Stone, 17 Feb. 2026
Beyond creating the underlying models that generate code, AI is also being harnessed to create the interfaces that customers and developers outside the company use to write code.
—Jared Perlo, NBC news, 5 Feb. 2026
Over the years, as the area developed, the mill harnessed the force of the river to run a corn and flour mill, and later a hydroelectric power station.
—Paula Allen, San Antonio Express-News, 31 Jan. 2026
For proof, look to the number of designers who harnessed a primary color palette –– yellow, blue, and red –– in recent collections.
—Shelby Ying Hyde, Refinery29, 29 Jan. 2026
Fashion has long harnessed the symbolism of the horse, a recurring motif for brands including Gucci, Loro Piana, Versace, Dior, Celine and Stella McCartney.
—Gemma A Williams, Vogue, 28 Jan. 2026
Quantum computing, once theoretical, is now being harnessed to tackle previously unsolvable problems in fluid dynamics, design of new molecules and materials, and energy optimization.
—CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
Drawing on decades of experience in nuclear physics and accelerator technology, the institute has now harnessed tandem accelerator techniques to achieve complete independent design capability.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 19 Jan. 2026
The team also found that the reconstructed ancestral enzymes were easier to produce in micro-organisms, such as yeast cells, than modern-day types, which mean they can be harnessed to synthesize cannabinoids more efficiently.
—New Atlas, 10 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harnessed
Verb
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For example, Mermentau Cove previously used Mardi Gras funds to construct a pavilion for their graveyard and add flags to veterans' graves.—
Carlie Procell,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
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The practice was particularly used by patrolling troops during World War II, according to Smith, who has educated himself in the sport’s long history.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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This is a Federal Issue due to the amount of resources being utilized, including rivers and aquifers that span multiple states.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
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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
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Ferguson is listed as the sole director of the companies, all of which applied in recent days to be struck off the UK’s official Companies House register, where virtually all businesses must file information such as directors’ details and annual returns.—
Billy Stockwell,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
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Think about the amount of technology that applied in America from that time, to 2019.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The ring allegedly exploited a large-scale humanitarian effort used to ship aid and commercial goods into the shattered enclave.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
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Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet venture is increasingly being seen as critical infrastructure that can be targeted or exploited in geopolitical conflicts.—
J.D. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The brutal tactics employed by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency and various other federal agencies are intended to strike fear in immigrants and other people of color, primarily Black folks, as well as Transgender and LGBTQIA+ communities.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Feb. 2026
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Investigators say a board member told them Hernandez used to be employed by the former property management company as the building's general maintenance employee, but then was placed on the building's direct payroll in 2024 when Obismo took over.—
Anna McAllister,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Harnessed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harnessed. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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