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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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
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
Carney and Chinese President Xi Jinping took a step toward mending the long-fractured ties between their countries last month with a meeting at the Asia-Pacific summit.
—Rob Gillies, Fortune, 26 Nov. 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
Earlier this month, the brand launched a denim repair and mending program at its Williamsburg, Brooklyn, store, running over the next three months and aiming to promote circularity.
—Jennifer Bringle, Sourcing Journal, 21 Nov. 2025
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
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
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
Carney and Chinese President Xi Jinping took a step toward mending the long-fractured ties between their countries last month with a meeting at the Asia-Pacific summit.
—Rob Gillies, Fortune, 26 Nov. 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
Earlier this month, the brand launched a denim repair and mending program at its Williamsburg, Brooklyn, store, running over the next three months and aiming to promote circularity.
—Jennifer Bringle, Sourcing Journal, 21 Nov. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mending
Noun
-
After eight months in rehabilitation at SeaWorld Orlando, a manatee and her calf were returned to their home in the Florida Keys on Wednesday.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
29 Jan. 2026
-
With the new rehabilitation area, the aquarium is going from being able to treat one or two turtles at a time to up to four.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 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 couple began repairing and renovating the house after Irene, but before that work was done, Superstorm Sandy struck the next year, destroying brand new windows and other furnishings inside.—
Maleena Muzio,
Hartford Courant,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Being a self-repairing sack of meat, even in 2026, still has its advantages.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Some of the more unique options include the Tok Sen massage, which blends Thai massage with vibration therapy, and the Golden Lotus Balancing Ritual that infuses herbal medicine and includes a wrap of healing herbs followed by a full-body massage using herbal cream.—
Lizbeth Scordo,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Jan. 2026
-
The charity, which offers healing outdoor experiences as a mental health support initiative, hosted a well-being walk near Curbar in Northern England on January 27.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Robinson’s death, before the legend was smoothed, even needed some rehabilitating from the Black Panthers, who eulogize him tellingly, as a product of his time.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Simon is trying to blend in while suppressing his secret power to bend and manipulate ionic energy while Trevor's true purpose for acting in Wonder Man isn't just about rehabilitating his image.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Approximately 80% of that figure comes from consulting services, signifying that enterprises are compensating IBM to create operational AI systems, rather than merely executing pilot programs.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
While the streaming economy leaves much to be desired in terms of compensating creators, the blame is not entirely on streaming services.—
Jem Aswad,
Variety,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The organization is also tasked with improving coordination between government agencies and other stakeholders.—
Noël Fletcher,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Meantime road crews have been working nonstop since Sunday and conditions were improving Monday night, but drivers are still being urged to stay off the roads and travel cautiously as snow continues to fall.—
Aaron Parseghian,
CBS News,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Acrylics don't need curing under a lamp and harden within a few minutes.—
Tori Crowther,
Refinery29,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Ridley recommends using gel polishes for a deer print mani, since the curing step locks each layer in, keeping them from blurring together and becoming a muddled mess.—
Annie Blay-Tettey,
Allure,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mending. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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