mend

1
2
3
4
as in to compensate
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 & Similar Words

5
as in to improve
to change one's behavior or character for the better everyone's written her off as a liar and a thief, but I say it's never too late to mend

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

6

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb mend contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of mend are patch, rebuild, and repair. While all these words 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

When is patch a more appropriate choice than mend?

Although the words patch and mend have much in common, patch implies an often temporary fixing of a hole or break with new material.

patch worn jeans

Where would rebuild be a reasonable alternative to mend?

The words rebuild and mend are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, rebuild suggests making like new without completely replacing.

a rebuilt automobile engine

When can repair be used instead of mend?

The words repair and mend can be used in similar contexts, but repair applies to the fixing of more extensive damage or dilapidation.

repaired the back steps

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 mend Cases are won, but not without collateral damage; relationships mend, but not without scars. Okla Jones, Essence, 25 Sep. 2025 After mending their ties in 2021, the GCC states have come to share a fraternal insistence on steering Arabian Gulf affairs from within. Monica Marks, Time, 19 Sep. 2025 Save from isolated slip-ups, all addressed by and mended with the captain, there were no big issues. Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2025 While his brother Trent Mosley continues to mend a foot injury, Eagles sophomore Grant Mosley continues to shine. Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 15 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mend
Verb
  • Now working for United Airlines as an avionics technician at Newark Liberty International Airport, repairing plane engines and electrical systems, the 25-year-old has already doubled her investment in the program and makes over six-figures.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2025
  • The Wisconsin native was charged with repairing bridges within the department, campus and community that Addazio had neglected or damaged.
    Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 19 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Ashby worked around a leadoff walk of Shohei Ohtani, but recovered to retire the side.
    Andy McCullough, New York Times, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Regulators then allow companies to recover those costs, plus profits, in customer bills.
    NPR, NPR, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The challenge was to portray a journey of love, loss, grief, and healing through choreography and without dialogue.
    Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Curing can toughen the skin, heal minor cuts, and extend its shelf life.
    Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • By contrast, in states like Nevada, where more than 1,000 nuclear tests conducted in the 1950s and '60s exposed civilians to radiation, individuals have been compensated with up to $100,000.
    MSNBC Newsweek, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Setup ease comes courtesy of autofocus, keystone correction, fit-to-screen and a tool that can compensate for uneven surfaces.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Key Takeaways Drinking carrot and ginger juice daily may improve digestion, immunity, skin health, and heart function.
    Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 14 Oct. 2025
  • The pose can help improve your circulation, which can decrease swelling and inflammation, Robert Saper, an integrative medicine physician at the Cleveland Clinic, told the hospital’s blog in 2021.
    Megan Sauer, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • In the Muslim community, as in many other religious communities, mental health issues are seen as something that can be cured through spiritual channels.
    Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2025
  • In September, Altman shared dreams in a blog post that in the future, AI could cure cancer or provide customized tutoring to every student on earth.
    Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Thanks to budget increases from the city government, Wright hired two employees who make house calls to encourage owners to get their animals fixed and mend fences so that dogs known to wander can’t get loose.
    Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Live Translation, in aiming to fix all that messiness in an algorithm streamed through Bluetooth earbuds, is not opening human communication up so much as flattening it.
    Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The federal push aimed to repair, rehabilitate and replace old iron and steel pipes with new pipelines to improve safety.
    NPR, NPR, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Community members at the time cried and mourned as their hopes of rehabilitating and reopening the historic structure were reduced to ashes.
    Kyle Martin, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mend. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on mend

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!