as in rehabilitation
the process or period of gradually regaining one's health and strength
it was a long slow mending of his injuries from the car crash, but he's fine now
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in recovering
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in repairing
to put into good shape or working order again
that shirt will be as good as new when I'm finished mending it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in healing
to become healthy and strong again after illness or weakness
she's mending after a particularly nasty bout of the flu
Synonyms & Similar Words
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3
as in rehabilitating
to restore to a healthy condition
mended the broken plant so that it was soon thriving again
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in compensating
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 improving
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
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6
as in curing
to bring about recovery from
the old adage that only time can mend a broken heart
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mending
Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2026
Visitors can try their hand at skills such as block printing, moss wall art, and Japanese sashiko mending.
—Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 21 Jan. 2026
Sometimes our brains need something completely different to concentrate on while our hearts do their mending.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 2 Sep. 2025
Their relationship definitely needs mending.
—Joan MacDonald, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Feb. 2026
Fiery Mars leaps into a supportive sextile to healing Chiron, encouraging us to make the first move in mending strained bonds of any type.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 22 Feb. 2026
Hanceville’s new mayor was tasked with mending that alliance.
—Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
After settling in Minnesota, Chin worked as a seamstress, mending clothing and making wedding dresses.
—Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 1 Feb. 2026
This New Moon is perfect for mending such inner tears, with its Capricorn durability steeling your 12th House of Finishes.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 18 Jan. 2026
Saturday should go a long way toward mending that relationship.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 8 Jan. 2026
Economic leaders, especially in the American Chambers of Commerce and the National Association of Entrepreneurs of Colombia, have made clear their interest in mending ties between the two countries.
—Kevin Whitaker, Foreign Affairs, 15 Dec. 2025
When paired with the Grimmerie translation key available on the film's Universal site, the spell is revealed to be an incantation for soothing and mending pain and fear.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Nov. 2025
Noun
Family ties may need some mending, and once they’ve been handled, those bonds could be immensely helpful.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2026
Visitors can try their hand at skills such as block printing, moss wall art, and Japanese sashiko mending.
—Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 21 Jan. 2026
Sometimes our brains need something completely different to concentrate on while our hearts do their mending.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 2 Sep. 2025
Their relationship definitely needs mending.
—Joan MacDonald, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Verb
Many of you will agree, and that will go a long way in mending the rift in this country.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Feb. 2026
Fiery Mars leaps into a supportive sextile to healing Chiron, encouraging us to make the first move in mending strained bonds of any type.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 22 Feb. 2026
Hanceville’s new mayor was tasked with mending that alliance.
—Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
After settling in Minnesota, Chin worked as a seamstress, mending clothing and making wedding dresses.
—Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 1 Feb. 2026
This New Moon is perfect for mending such inner tears, with its Capricorn durability steeling your 12th House of Finishes.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 18 Jan. 2026
Saturday should go a long way toward mending that relationship.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 8 Jan. 2026
Economic leaders, especially in the American Chambers of Commerce and the National Association of Entrepreneurs of Colombia, have made clear their interest in mending ties between the two countries.
—Kevin Whitaker, Foreign Affairs, 15 Dec. 2025
When paired with the Grimmerie translation key available on the film's Universal site, the spell is revealed to be an incantation for soothing and mending pain and fear.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mending
Noun
-
After being rescued from the beach, the turtle was rushed to the Houston Zoo, evaluated by veterinary partners, then transferred to a rehabilitation hospital for ongoing treatment.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Diversion programs generally lead to charges being dismissed if defendants complete treatment or rehabilitation.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Plus, its 3-hour battery life means less charging, and more recovering.—
Talene Appleton,
Men's Health,
31 Jan. 2023
-
She was taken to a hospital with punctures and lacerations and is stable and recovering.—
San Diego Union-Tribune,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Nov. 2022
Verb
-
The facilities were badly damaged, but Iran kept repairing them and exports continued.—
Imtiaz Tyab,
CBS News,
14 Mar. 2026
-
There are a few options to deal with old brickwork, including cleaning and repairing the brick, painting or staining the brick, or even installing new siding or stucco over the brick.—
Timothy Dale,
The Spruce,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Make sure the pillow feels comfortable, especially as your incisions are healing.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Ospreay was healing from serious back injuries and looked great.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
When an older house has been lived in for a few years, the home could be in a condition that isn’t worth rehabilitating or its sellers might not want to deal with the housing market, instead opting to pass the site on to a developer, Vaughn said.—
Neal Franklin,
Dallas Morning News,
11 Mar. 2026
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Adventure seekers can swim with rehabilitating sea turtles at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center, go scuba diving, or take a short cruise to the Bahamas, while sports fans catch an international polo match and explore the 300-acre, cage-free Lion Country Safari.—
Carrie Honaker,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Placing a person possibly under investigation as attorney general and further compensating him appears to be a blantant attempt to end the investigation.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2026
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Building a staff capable of compensating for those flaws is an entirely different skill.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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While state lawmakers have passed nearly 50 new laws aimed at improving youth mental health, Colorado Health Institute found 44% of kids who needed care last year didn't get it due to a lack of money or insurance.—
Shaun Boyd,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
-
While trading away Osa Odighizuwa and Solomon Thomas certainly doesn’t make the defense better on paper, the team also acquired draft capital in 2026 to go toward improving the defensive side of the ball.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The dish notorious for curing a cold is a recipe that every home cook should keep in their back pocket for sick days and cozy nights alike.—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Donovan said the medical team attempted a few rounds of injections, but that treatment was unsuccessful in curing the issue.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mending. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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