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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in rehabilitating
to restore to a healthy condition
mended the broken plant so that it was soon thriving again
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in curing
to bring about recovery from
the old adage that only time can mend a broken heart
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mending
Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 30 Apr. 2026
If a piece is salvageable and needs some mending or a powerful stain remover, set it aside and make a plan to attend to it.
—Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 16 Apr. 2026
While the company’s humble beginnings began as a simple mending solution, Vivolo believes the future of trims will be about integration between craftsmanship and technology.
—Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 1 Apr. 2026
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
Carolyn Zola, The Conversation, 11 June 2026
Dirty or dusty flags can be washed or dry cleaned, and there are no provisions against mending or repairing a flag, according to the American Legion.
—Darleene Powells, Boston Herald, 10 June 2026
Tager explained that the process involved mending the canvas, then treating the layers of paint to ensure that the damage was undetectable.
—News Desk, Artforum, 9 June 2026
Around the same time as the engagement photo shoots, the brides-to-be start mending their porcelain plates, which were ceremoniously shattered so the brides-to-be could mend them.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 13 May 2026
The president’s latest barbs came just days before Secretary of State Marco Rubio traveled to the Vatican for a fence-mending visit.
—Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026
Here Hathaway plays a pop star in crisis, busy mending her relationship with her former costume designer and best friend, played by Michaela Coel, on the eve of a comeback that doesn’t exactly promise levity.
—Maddalena Gomez, Vanity Fair, 27 Apr. 2026
Meyers said Thursday that mending the relationship between the school and households will be important, but that there is only so much that can be done.
—Samuel O’Neal April 23, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Apr. 2026
Feeding the needy and mending cultural divides over the course of 24 hours is a tall order.
—Monique John, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
Noun
Simply tossing all your clothes into the washer can sometimes result in damaged garments that require replacements or mending.
—Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 30 Apr. 2026
If a piece is salvageable and needs some mending or a powerful stain remover, set it aside and make a plan to attend to it.
—Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 16 Apr. 2026
While the company’s humble beginnings began as a simple mending solution, Vivolo believes the future of trims will be about integration between craftsmanship and technology.
—Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 1 Apr. 2026
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
Cooking and preparing food, spinning and weaving cloth, washing and mending clothes, and caring for the sick were just some of the kinds of labor that supported the fledgling nation.
—Carolyn Zola, The Conversation, 11 June 2026
Dirty or dusty flags can be washed or dry cleaned, and there are no provisions against mending or repairing a flag, according to the American Legion.
—Darleene Powells, Boston Herald, 10 June 2026
Tager explained that the process involved mending the canvas, then treating the layers of paint to ensure that the damage was undetectable.
—News Desk, Artforum, 9 June 2026
Around the same time as the engagement photo shoots, the brides-to-be start mending their porcelain plates, which were ceremoniously shattered so the brides-to-be could mend them.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 13 May 2026
The president’s latest barbs came just days before Secretary of State Marco Rubio traveled to the Vatican for a fence-mending visit.
—Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026
Here Hathaway plays a pop star in crisis, busy mending her relationship with her former costume designer and best friend, played by Michaela Coel, on the eve of a comeback that doesn’t exactly promise levity.
—Maddalena Gomez, Vanity Fair, 27 Apr. 2026
Meyers said Thursday that mending the relationship between the school and households will be important, but that there is only so much that can be done.
—Samuel O’Neal April 23, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Apr. 2026
Feeding the needy and mending cultural divides over the course of 24 hours is a tall order.
—Monique John, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mending
Noun
-
The accused are young men who would have a better shot at rehabilitation in the juvenile-justice system, Gottlieb said.—
Sofia Saric
June 11,
Miami Herald,
11 June 2026
-
According to the department, each spring and summer, CDFW and wildlife rehabilitation facilities are called to assist with fawns that have been removed from the wild.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
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 administration has also completed several smaller projects, such as repairing over 20 fountains and refurbishing around 30 statues and monuments throughout the district.—
Molly Parks,
The Washington Examiner,
12 June 2026
-
He’s fully recovered from his surgery repairing a torn right ACL and meniscus damage, returning in January after being sidelined for more than a year recovering.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Nearly two weeks later, his pain had resolved and his wound was healing well.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
9 June 2026
-
Just days after the violence, dozens of residents came together at Fairfield Civic Center Park for a community healing circle focused on grief, support and unity.—
Conor McGill,
CBS News,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
Barry Manilow is recovering from lung cancer and rehabilitating his singing voice in hopes of returning to the stage to promote his first album of new songs in nearly 15 years, What a Time.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
4 June 2026
-
The construction is part of Caltrans’ $280 million Yolo 80 Pavement Rehabilitation Project, which includes adding bus and carpool lanes, improving pedestrian crossings, upgrading guardrails and barriers, replacing overhead signs, installing fiber-optic cable and rehabilitating ramps.—
Velvet Wu
May 28,
Sacbee.com,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
For now, the blue-collar gains are compensating for the bleeding in entry-level hiring.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
1 June 2026
-
Where are employees compensating at personal cost to keep work moving?—
Bill Howatt,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Start by improving your credit score to get it as high as possible.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
8 June 2026
-
That also means improving the quality of the bales that retailers bid on, mostly sight unseen, in what has become a kind of high-stakes lottery.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
After curing, clip the garlic leaves off hardneck garlic varieties and store the bulbs in mesh bags, or twist softneck garlic leaves into braids for hanging.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 May 2026
-
Covey said the team is hoping the void space at the top of the tank will absorb the overpressure from the curing process, preventing an explosion.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
23 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mending. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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