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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mending
Noun
-
After LaBeouf was charged in February, a judge ordered him to return to drug and alcohol rehabilitation.—
JACK BROOK,
ABC News,
3 June 2026
-
One that excels at warehousing people in jails and prisons, but fails at true healing and rehabilitation, so people come home as better neighbors.—
Ana Zamora,
Time,
3 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
-
This consists of repairing or improving lighting, ADA-accessible restrooms, elevators and escalators.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
29 May 2026
-
Emollients sink into the skin to fill in all those tiny gaps, repairing the lipid barrier so your face feels soft, flexible, and smooth instead of rough and itchy.—
Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal,
Parents,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
They were encouraged to purchase pricey gemstones from him that were supposedly imbued with healing powers.—
Marlow Stern,
Variety,
1 June 2026
-
Tazheen Nizam, executive director of the San Diego office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, said the pain might last forever, even as healing beings.—
Roxana Popescu,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Right tackle Austin Jackson, who also didn’t participate in OTAs last week, is rehabilitating from offseason foot surgery, Hafley said.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
27 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
-
Companies across sectors continue to adopt AI tools in hopes of improving efficiency, reducing costs, and accelerating innovation.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
1 June 2026
-
Multi-generational engagement and transparency Technology is also improving communication between family members, executives and external advisers.—
Paul Westall,
Forbes.com,
1 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 5 Jun. 2026.
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