Synonyms of make

make

verb

ˈmāk 

1

as in to produce

to bring into being by combining, shaping, or transforming materials

will you help me make the dough for the cookies?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• produce
• create
• manufacture
• build
• construct
• assemble
• form
• fabricate
• organize
• frame
• fashion
• craft
• put together
• shape
• establish
• make up
• invent
• erect
• structure
• raise
• forge
• design
• throw up
• set up
• devise
• originate
• hew
• imagine
• mold
• visualize
• put up
• knock out
• envisage
• contrive
• rear
• concoct
• patch (together)
• institute
• conceive
• mint
• handcraft
• think (up)
• remake
• cook (up)
• prefabricate
• father
• picture
• cobble (together or up)
• refashion
• remanufacture

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dismantle
• destroy
• eradicate
• ruin
• abolish
• break up
• disassemble
• flatten
• extinguish
• smash
• exterminate
• demolish
• annihilate
• take apart
• shatter
• wreck
• explode
• devastate
• dismember
• blow up
• pulverize
• raze

2

as in to achieve

to obtain (as a goal) through effort

we finally made it!

Synonyms & Similar Words

• achieve
• attain
• win
• gain
• obtain
• get
• hit
• garner
• score
• secure
• acquire
• capture
• realize
• log
• land
• procure
• draw
• carry
• rack up
• clock (up)
• excel
• chalk up
• ring up
• tie
• bag
• notch (up)
• match
• meet
• touch
• approach
• equal
• surpass
• amount (to)
• top
• outdo
• rival
• measure up (to)
• beat

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• miss
• fail (at)
• lose
• fall short (of)

3

as in to create

to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind)

the cats made quite a disturbance when they knocked the Christmas tree over

Synonyms & Similar Words

• create
• bring
• cause
• generate
• do
• prompt
• produce
• work
• induce
• spawn
• yield
• invoke
• effectuate
• effect
• bring about
• catalyze
• result (in)
• draw on
• found
• give rise to
• encourage
• translate (into)
• beget
• engender
• introduce
• promote
• occasion
• bring on
• bring forth
• establish
• begin
• initiate
• decide
• determine
• breed
• contribute (to)
• start
• develop
• inaugurate
• launch
• render
• pioneer
• enact
• cultivate
• forward
• foster
• institute
• set up
• further
• set
• conduce (to)
• advance
• innovate
• turn out
• nurture
• nourish
• father

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• restrict
• impede
• limit
• suppress
• quash
• stifle
• subdue
• check
• repress
• dampen
• quell
• smother
• control
• put down
• restrain
• inhibit
• crush
• can
• curb
• kill
• arrest
• retard
• destroy
• rein (in)
• squelch
• still
• crack down (on)
• squash
• abolish
• liquidate
• clamp down (on)
• extinguish
• demolish
• quench
• snuff (out)

4

as in to fulfill

to carry through (as a process) to completion

one person from each department will be asked to make a short presentation at the meeting

Synonyms & Similar Words

• achieve
• fulfill
• accomplish
• perform
• do
• execute
• implement
• commit
• carry out
• negotiate
• prosecute
• realize
• carry off
• put through
• complete
• finish
• perpetrate
• pull off
• compass
• effectuate
• bring off
• go through
• attain
• effect
• follow through (with)
• bring about
• practice
• engage (in)
• repeat
• work (at)
• ace
• end
• nail
• reenact
• actualize
• wind up
• reduplicate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fail
• slight
• skimp
• slur

5

as in to compel

to cause (a person) to give in to pressure

made him do all the work while everyone else just lounged around

Synonyms & Similar Words

• compel
• force
• coerce
• obligate
• oblige
• drive
• constrain
• impress
• pressure
• impel
• intimidate
• muscle
• blackmail
• bully
• sandbag
• threaten
• press
• dragoon
• twist one's arm
• cow
• browbeat
• terrorize
• bulldoze
• blackjack
• drag
• shame
• harass
• menace
• high-pressure
• badger
• hector
• hound

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• let
• allow
• permit
• move
• induce
• convince
• satisfy
• argue
• talk (into)
• win (over)
• persuade
• prevail (on or upon)

6

as in to estimate

to decide the size, amount, number, or distance of (something) without actual measurement

I make that to be about six feet long

Synonyms & Similar Words

• estimate
• calculate
• suppose
• put
• figure
• guess
• gauge
• judge
• reckon
• call
• place
• understand
• conclude
• infer
• gather
• conjecture
• deduce
• extrapolate
• reason

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• measure
• scale
• compute
• calibrate
• work out

7

as in to build

to form by putting together parts or materials

make a model airplane

Synonyms & Similar Words

• build
• construct
• assemble
• create
• found
• erect
• establish
• produce
• fabricate
• manufacture
• make up
• piece
• design
• set up
• raise
• generate
• confect
• put together
• put up
• rear
• organize
• begin
• concoct
• invent
• shape
• rebuild
• forge
• initiate
• originate
• devise
• constitute
• reconstruct
• imagine
• mold
• innovate
• inaugurate
• carpenter
• contrive
• fashion
• combine
• conceive
• frame
• institute
• hammer
• handcraft
• reassemble
• coin
• prefabricate
• retrofit
• think (up)
• father
• unite
• cook (up)
• throw up
• redevelop
• reedify
• rig (up)
• jerry-build

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• destroy
• strike
• dismantle
• ruin
• take down
• disassemble
• dismember
• tear down
• flatten
• smash
• knock down
• demolish
• shatter
• pulverize
• pull down
• wreck
• devastate
• explode
• raze
• level
• blow up
• detach
• disengage
• divide
• demount
• separate
• ruinate
• disconnect
• disunite
• disjoin

8

as in to seem

to give the impression of being

the family made merry despite their financial worries

Synonyms & Similar Words

• seem
• look
• feel
• sound
• appear
• act
• pretend
• resemble
• come across (as)
• come off (as)
• imply
• suggest
• recall
• dissemble
• hint
• insinuate

9

as in to head

to go on a specified course or in a certain direction

the baby made straight for the toy lying on the rug

Synonyms & Similar Words

• head
• turn
• put
• aim
• bear
• point
• set out
• direct
• steer
• bend
• set off
• veer
• orient
• put out
• face
• strike
• take off
• cut
• back
• beeline
• reverse
• come about
• tack
• come round
• turn back
• light out
• put about
• swerve
• incline
• wheel
• about-face
• yaw

10

as in to enact

to put into effect through legislative or authoritative action

the legislature failed to make any new laws last session

Synonyms & Similar Words

• enact
• pass
• constitute
• approve
• legislate
• dictate
• lay down
• ordain
• permit
• authorize
• effect
• ratify
• bring about
• allow
• execute
• proclaim
• reenact
• sanction
• administer
• confirm
• repass
• decree

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• revoke
• kill
• rescind
• repeal
• cancel
• abolish
• invalidate
• reverse
• nullify
• annul
• abrogate
• void
• overturn

11

as in to earn

to receive as return for effort

I make considerably more money now than I did when I first started working here

Synonyms & Similar Words

• earn
• win
• get
• reap
• gain
• garner
• obtain
• realize
• attain
• secure
• land
• acquire
• procure
• capture
• achieve
• draw
• carry
• bring in
• come by
• pull down
• accomplish
• knock down
• accumulate
• bag
• amass
• score
• occupy
• gross
• clear
• net
• regain
• catch
• recapture
• take over
• remake
• pick up
• annex
• rack up
• notch (up)
• reacquire
• reattain

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lose
• give
• pay
• forfeit
• grant
• yield
• accord
• give up
• surrender
• relinquish
• part (with)
• hand over

12

as in to understand

to have a clear idea of

what do you make of the latest information?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• understand
• know
• decipher
• recognize
• see
• comprehend
• get
• appreciate
• grasp
• realize
• discern
• perceive
• sense
• conceive
• seize
• assimilate
• make out
• dig
• apprehend
• catch
• decode
• register
• tumble (to)
• cotton (to or on to)
• catch on (to)
• intuit
• twig
• behold
• pick up on
• compass
• savvy
• grok
• cognize
• absorb
• digest
• fathom
• take in
• penetrate
• pierce

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• miss
• misunderstand
• mistake
• misinterpret
• misread
• misconstrue
• misperceive
• misconceive
• misapprehend

13

as in to shut

chiefly dialect to position (something) so as to prevent passage through an opening

make the gate when ye leave

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shut
• close
• lock
• seal
• slam
• steek
• fasten
• secure
• latch
• chain
• batten (down)
• bar
• plug
• clap
• stopper
• bolt
• bang

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• open
• unlock
• unfasten
• unseal
• unbolt
• unlatch
• unchain
• unbar

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of make

For years, someone relied on them to make the decision, solve the problem, calm the client, or notice what everyone else had overlooked. — Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026

The Azizuddin Brothers have spent the better part of a decade making work that sidesteps genre convention and mainstream expectation. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 5 Aug. 2026

Williamson, the automatic runner at second base, went to third on a sacrifice bunt by Taylor Walls and scampered home on a wild pitch by Nick Frasso (0-1), who was making his major league debut. — ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026

The soft glow of the setting sun and the calm waters make this a peaceful and one-of-a-kind experience. — Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Aug. 2026

Phrases Containing make

• make a comeback
• make a face
• make a pretense
• make a scene
• make a show
• make amends (for)
• make away with
• make believe
• make common cause
• make do
• make ducks and drakes of
• make ends meet
• make eyes (at)
• make faces
• make fun of
• make good
• make good (for)
• make good on
• make it
• make it (through)
• make much of
• make off with
• make one's flesh crawl
• make one's flesh creep
• make one's mark
• make out
• make over
• make port
• make shift
• make sport of
• make the grade
• make tracks
• make up
• make up (for)
• make use of