as in weighing
to be of importance
she believes that doing well in school really does matter
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Recent Examples of mattering
Psychologists, sociologists, and philosophers vary in their definitions of mattering, but at its core, mattering is the feeling that we are valued and have value to add to the world.
—
Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
When age stopped mattering During the bourbon boom that accelerated after 2012, demand exploded faster than distilleries could age whiskey.
—Emily Price, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
But why should that start mattering now?
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025
In other words, as Cleveland tore through the league last season, the players responded to most of the milestones reached with a collective shrug and worn axioms about nothing mattering until the playoffs.
—Joe Vardon, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
But as kids move into adolescence and gain more independence, friends start mattering more, filling the space previously held by parents and teachers.
—Russell Shaw, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2025
That may be why the Media Matters fight, which seems like just another front with a tangential player in the FTC's bigger battle, may end up mattering the most.
—Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 22 Aug. 2025
Flett has come to understand mattering as a counterpoint to perfectionism, a more viable way to arrive at a sense of self-worth.
—Leslie Jamison, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
When age stopped mattering During the bourbon boom that accelerated after 2012, demand exploded faster than distilleries could age whiskey.
—Emily Price, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
But why should that start mattering now?
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025
In other words, as Cleveland tore through the league last season, the players responded to most of the milestones reached with a collective shrug and worn axioms about nothing mattering until the playoffs.
—Joe Vardon, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
But as kids move into adolescence and gain more independence, friends start mattering more, filling the space previously held by parents and teachers.
—Russell Shaw, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2025
That may be why the Media Matters fight, which seems like just another front with a tangential player in the FTC's bigger battle, may end up mattering the most.
—Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 22 Aug. 2025
Flett has come to understand mattering as a counterpoint to perfectionism, a more viable way to arrive at a sense of self-worth.
—Leslie Jamison, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mattering
Verb
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At the Degemar quarries, drilled down to 30 meters (yards) under sea level, bright blue ponds of sulfur springs pool the travertine residue as flat-bed trucks haul stone slabs weighing 33 tons up to street level.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Feb. 2026
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During the fueling test, engineers will study the effectiveness of the repairs, with NASA officials weighing the overall readiness of the rocket and its various systems.—
Denise Chow,
NBC news,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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At Neuras Wine and Wildlife Estate, on the edge of the Namib Desert, grapes are grown under netting to keep off hungry baboons, meaning there’s plenty for us tipple-loving primates to enjoy.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
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The Grand Hall's vineyard-style seating is arranged like clusters of grapes on different vines, meaning there’s no bad seat in the house.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mattering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mattering. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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