MAKING UP Synonyms: 131 Similar and Opposite Words

making up

verb

present participle of make up

as in comprising

to be all the substance of the book is made up of 20 chapters

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in devising

to create or think of by clever use of the imagination she keeps making up excuses as to why she hasn't yet finished the project

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in building

to form by putting together parts or materials we'll have to make up the bookcase, which came in a box marked "some assembly required"

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 making up Asia-Pacific is still a small share of Mubadala鈥檚 portfolio, making up 13% of its holdings, against 44% for North America. — semafor.com, 15 Oct. 2026 The Grotto of Massabielle is one of the 22 sites making up the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes. — ABC News, 24 Sep. 2026 The project is expected to set aside 40% of its units as affordable for those making up to 60% of the area median income under federal guidelines. — Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2026 She was later wrongfully accused of making up the allegations and fired, while Durrah maintained his employment with the department, Tillman claimed in her complaint. — Amber Gaudet updated August 20, Charlotte Observer, 20 Aug. 2026 Consumer payments and subscriptions remain the core of the business, contributing 85% to 90% of revenue across the forecast period, with subscriptions already making up 60% to 70% of viewer spend. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 6 Aug. 2026 From female directors making up 18-19 percent of film production to more than 30 percent. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 23 July 2026 Medicaid now covers families making up to 138% of the federal poverty level. — Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 25 June 2026 Congress has to keep making up the gap with general taxpayer funds. — Camila Domonoske, NPR, 28 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for making up

Verb

In a speech following Tuesday's ceremony, Netanyahu reiterated his claim that Arab politicians, who represent a minority comprising 20% of Israel's population, cannot be trusted.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 11 Nov. 2026
The system comprising a six seabed landers has been deployed at the Endurance CO₂ store, around 93 miles (150 kilometers) off the coast of Teesside, before carbon dioxide injection begins.

— Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 11 Nov. 2026

Definition of comprising

Verb

With her knack for devising novel solutions to seemingly insoluble problems, no one was better suited for the job.

— Dean Robbins, Space.com, 18 Oct. 2026
Mungiu may have a less sadistic streak and a more active camera, but the two filmmakers share a particular commitment to narrative indeterminacy, devising intricate yet incomplete crime-story plots that function broadly as sociopolitical allegories.

— Justin Chang, New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of devising

Verb

How Wednesday’s incident unfolded Hunt said that some people affiliated with Migra Watch, which monitors ICE through NorCal Resist, followed immigration agents to the Moss building earlier Wednesday before Masias’ detainment and hospitalization.

— Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 12 Nov. 2026
Opponents of Israel’s hardline prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, are trying to oust him by building a new coalition.

— Lauren Frayer, NPR, 12 Nov. 2026

Definition of building

Verb

Underneath the question on the screen, three dots appear—similar to the ones messaging apps use to signal that your conversation partner is composing a response—and flash with anticipation.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2026
Gash love composing songs whose intersecting lines set the entire mood of the song—jarring, dreamy, or nostalgic—in the style of art-house sampling.

— Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of composing

Verb

After an uneasy initial meeting, the two women unleash a passion neither knew could exist, with Olivia concocting a way for Tamsin to move into the Madden home.

— Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026
When the Farmer destroys the flock’s pumpkin patch, Shaun turns mad scientist, concocting a growth potion to put things right.

— Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of concocting

Verb

Conservation development is a method of constructing lots and homes closer together on smaller plots, the program states.

— Marc Hayot, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
Fielder has made a career out of constructing elaborate social experiments, like building exact replicas of people’s homes and hiring actors to impersonate their loved ones on The Rehearsal.

— Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of constructing

Verb

What broke them was the agent inventing a sequence of steps at runtime that nobody anticipated.

— Binny Gill, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026
Alex Calder is perhaps best known for inventing the mobile—a kinetic sculpture in which abstract shapes are gently moved by natural air currents—but the late, great American sculptor was also a talented jeweler.

— Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of inventing

Verb

Each scenario presents political obstacles, leaving Eisenkot facing the difficult task of assembling a coalition among parties with sharply different views on religion, national identity and security policy.

— Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 11 Nov. 2026
The only participating locale the family hasn’t visited in person is Ulster County, New York, which committed itself to assembling 100 bags.

— Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 10 Nov. 2026