Thesaurus

mend

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of mend

1 to put into good shape or working order again

That shirt will be as good as new when I'm finished mending it.

Synonyms of mend

doctor, fix, patch, recondition, renovate, repair, revamp

Words Related to mend

fix up, furbish, overhaul, rebuild, reconstruct, refurbish

aid, cure, heal, help

condition, prepare, ready

care (for), maintain, service

freshen, refresh, refreshen, regenerate, rejuvenate, renew, restore, revitalize, revive

ameliorate, better, enhance, enrich, improve, meliorate

Near Antonyms of mend

blemish, break, damage, deface, disfigure, flaw, harm, hurt, impair, injure, mar, ruin, spoil, vandalize, wreck

cripple, disable, maim, mangle, mutilate

2 to become healthy and strong again after illness or weakness

She's mending after a particularly nasty bout of the flu.

Synonyms of mend

come back, convalesce, gain, heal, rally, recoup, recover, recuperate, snap back

Words Related to mend

come around, come round, come to, improve, pick up, revive

cheer (up), perk (up)

pull through, survive

Near Antonyms of mend

ail, collapse, come down, sicken

decline, degenerate, deteriorate, fade, fail, languish, sink, waste (away), weaken, wilt, wither, worsen

regress, relapse

3 to restore to a healthy condition

mended the broken plant so that it was soon thriving again

Synonyms of mend

cure, fix, heal, rehabilitate, set up

Words Related to mend

attend (to), care (for), doctor, medicate, minister (to), nurse, physic, treat

fortify, rejuvenate, renew, resuscitate, revitalize, revive

alleviate, relieve, remedy, repair

Near Antonyms of mend

cripple, damage, disable, harm, hurt, impair, injure, lacerate, lame, maim, mangle, mutilate, wound

afflict, ail, debilitate, enervate, enfeeble, lay up, sap, sicken, waste, weaken

4 to make up for (an offense)

The proverb "least said, soonest mended" should be heeded by anyone tempted to angrily blurt out things they really don't mean.

Synonyms of mend

atone (for), expiate, redeem

Words Related to mend

compensate, recompense, reimburse, remunerate, repay

amend, correct, rectify, redress

Phrases Synonymous with mend

make amends for, make good for

5 to change one's behavior or character for the better

Everyone's written her off as a liar, but I say it's never too late to mend.

Synonyms of mend

amend, reform, shape up, straighten (up or out)

Words Related to mend

behave, regenerate

better, improve

Phrases Synonymous with mend

clean up one's act

Near Antonyms of mend

backslide, regress

6 to bring about recovery from

the old adage that only time can mend a broken heart

Synonyms of mend

cure, heal, remedy

Words Related to mend

allay, alleviate, assuage, relieve

palliate, salve, soothe

ease, lighten, moderate, temper

medicate, treat

Near Antonyms of mend

aggravate, worsen

misdiagnose, overdiagnose, underdiagnose

Synonym Discussion of mend

mend, repair, patch, rebuild mean to put into good order something that is injured, damaged, or defective. mend implies making whole or sound something broken, torn, or injured.

- mended the torn dress

repair applies to the fixing of more extensive damage or dilapidation.

- repaired the back steps

patch implies an often temporary fixing of a hole or break with new material.

- patch worn jeans

rebuild suggests making like new without completely replacing.

- a rebuilt automobile engine

Learn More about mend

See words that rhyme with mend Dictionary: Definition of mend Medical Dictionary: Definition of mend Spanish Central: Translation of mend Nglish: Translation of mend for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of mend for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up mend? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

WORD OF THE DAY

balmy

play

soothing, mild, or foolish

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games