1
as in repairs
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in recovers
to become healthy and strong again after illness or weakness
she's mending after a particularly nasty bout of the flu
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3
as in heals
to restore to a healthy condition
mended the broken plant so that it was soon thriving again
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4
as in compensates
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 improves
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 cures
to bring about recovery from
the old adage that only time can mend a broken heart
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mends
The money helps to keep its doors open, fund church programs and mends the spirit of its congregation, the church wrote.
—
Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mends
Verb
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Aimed at improving circularity and extending the life cycle of its products, M&S partnered with Redskinned—a company that repairs, resells and recycles used garments—to operate the eBay storefront.—
Jennifer Bringle,
Sourcing Journal,
2 Mar. 2026
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At the same time, your body repairs tissues, balances hormones, regulates metabolism and strengthens immune defenses.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Knowing how the brain moves in spaceflight and subsequently recovers allows researchers to understand the effects of microgravity on human physiology.—
Rachael Seidler,
Space.com,
7 Mar. 2026
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The Yankees have a crowded bench mix, even with José Caballero set to start the season at shortstop as Anthony Volpe recovers from shoulder surgery.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That admission runs counter to the tidy grief narrative most people carry around — the idea that time heals in a straight line.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Mar. 2026
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In cases like these, more fun lip balms just don’t cut it, whereas this 100% natural ointment instantly heals and replenishes.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Somogyi Effect If your blood sugar gets low at night, your body compensates by making more blood sugar.—
Angela Ryan Lee,
Verywell Health,
4 Mar. 2026
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However, research findings are mixed, and not everyone compensates by eating more.—
Stephanie Anderson Witmer,
Health,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Zheng Yu said the new system significantly improves vehicle performance and driving range.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Mar. 2026
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The first step replenishes skin’s water levels, and the second protects it—a combination that improves elasticity, calms inflammation, and strengthens barrier integrity.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Nothing cures a style rut quite like a little color blocking.—
Amanda Le,
InStyle,
3 Mar. 2026
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The movie, a result of Cook’s wild imagination and British legends, is a horror fantasy drama set in 1893 about Betty Lutey (Beatie Edney), while barred from studying medicine, cures someone with Tuberculosis with a mermaid’a cursed pearl comb.—
James Russell,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Pocket Grip is also aimed at woodworkers, bike mechanics, electrical technicians, and anyone who regularly fixes stuff around the house.—
Maryna Holovnova,
New Atlas,
4 Mar. 2026
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One fixes the bone, while the other does skin grafting of the wounds, which adds to recovery time.—
Sarah Shephard,
New York Times,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The charitable series, formerly starring LeAnne Rimes and Luke Grimes, ensures 15-percent of ticket proceeds go to the Saving Grace Equine Healing Foundation that rescues and rehabilitates horses.—
Demetrius Simms,
Robb Report,
15 Jan. 2026
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In total, the Ventana Wildlife Society — a group that traps, breeds and rehabilitates the vultures for release into the wild — has tracked 30 different condors that took multiple trips to parts of Alameda and Contra Costa counties sometime in the past two years.—
Kyle Martin,
Mercury News,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mends. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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