mending 1 of 3

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

mending

2 of 3

adjective

mending

3 of 3

verb

present participle of mend
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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

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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

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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 mending
Noun
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
Some Aquarians might be finalizing a move, mending family dynamics, or finally releasing emotional weight that’s been stored deep in the body. Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 2 Nov. 2025 In his photographs of young men of the RAF, Beaton finds a slight homoerotic lens — there’s men sharing cigarettes, bunked together in the trenches and mending clothes on a sewing machine. Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2025 Many of those hearts are back, still mending from the grief. Luca Evans, Denver Post, 17 Oct. 2025 Harry's best chance of mending the rift lies in him putting past disagreements behind him and focusing purely on his bond with Charles. Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 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 The reasons for the meeting are unclear, though British media outlets have speculated whether Harry and Charles are working on mending their strained relationship. Conor Murray, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025 It's brought back many thousands of Puerto Ricans who've moved away, and is mending some of their sorrow over that decision to leave. Adrian Florido, NPR, 16 Aug. 2025 Things were awkward — Silvio barely responded to her but continued to vogue around the living room — but at least, Miranda made headway with Mia in mending their relationship. Carson Blackwelder, People.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mending
Noun
  • The trauma of last weekend will require patient rehabilitation and mental care.
    Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 8 Nov. 2025
  • The project includes the rehabilitation or replacement of 12 interchanges and 26 bridges.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 7 Nov. 2025
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
  • Even then, the employees explained that repairing the engine's synchronization issues wouldn't solve its oil burning issue.
    Gina Lee Castro, jsonline.com, 30 Oct. 2025
  • More than 70% the country is without power and officials warn that repairing critical infrastructure could take weeks, if not longer.
    Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Ariana Grande has been open about the fact that portraying Glinda in the Wicked films has been healing for her as an artist.
    Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 5 Nov. 2025
  • However, Campbell said the irritation is healing more slowly than the team hoped.
    Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Iasiello, a licensed real estate broker, exhaustively and cheerfully documents his work buying, rehabilitating and flipping these homes, providing daily video diaries of the work and line item breakdowns of the entire cost — and profit — associated with some of his projects.
    Karen Wang, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Meanwhile, those on the front lines of rescuing and rehabilitating animals at care centers are concerned that the current furloughs and the possibility of job cuts could result in less support for struggling ocean creatures.
    Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • But that figure is far from compensating for the losses farmers are actually seeing.
    Vivian Jones, Nashville Tennessean, 4 Nov. 2025
  • The Rockets are compensating without the 6-foot VanVleet by pivoting to an extremely tall starting lineup.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Across Brazil, nearly three-quarters of citizens believe city climate initiatives are improving both the environment and their daily quality of life.
    MSNBC Newsweek, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Mayo is a community activist and nonprofit leader whose organization Transforming Nations Ford focuses on improving the Nations Ford and Arrowood corridor.
    Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Advances in biotech help keep America healthy by preventing, treating and curing disease.
    Sen. Todd Young, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
  • Remove the Soil Don’t wash potatoes after harvesting, as extra moisture slows down the curing process and makes potatoes spoil faster in storage.
    Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Mending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mending. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.

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