mends

present tense third-person singular of mend
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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 mends Fixing the deep systemic wounds for these specific groups ultimately mends and strengthens the entire corporate structure. — Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026 Nothing mends a friendship quite like an exorcism. — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2026 Mason Thames stars in the live-action How to Train Your Dragon as series protagonist Hiccup, a young Viking who mends a rift between his village and a group of dragons. — Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026 Last month, the Dutch social enterprise United Repair Centre (URC), which mends clothing from performancewear brands such as Patagonia, Decathlon, Arc’teryx and The North Face, opened its second international outpost in Paris. — Fleur Britten, Vogue, 2 Apr. 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mends
Verb
  • The early results are miraculous, as his face repairs itself to its previous dreamboat state in a matter of months; unluckily for him, his cells are loath to leave things there.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Damage to a walkway or handrail, by comparison, might remain unchanged until someone repairs it.
    — Emma Clapp, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The important thing here is that His Holiness the pope recovers his health.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Defensive player of the week Junior defensive back Jaden Wright makes six tackles, intercepts a pass, recovers a fumble and also returns a punt 55 yards for a touchdown during Warren’s 49-0 North Suburban Conference win over Waukegan.
    — Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 13 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Christian Science Perspective Instead of being full of burden and obligation, the activities of Churches of Christ, Scientist, are full of light that uplifts and heals.
    — Lynn Jackson, Christian Science Monitor, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Mayo Clinic notes that a major goal after surgery is getting patients relatively comfortable, but some pain may remain as the body heals.
    — Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 26 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • David’s publisher, Radler, compensates authors for their laughable advances with a staggering number of complimentary copies.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2026
  • For years, Whitehouse’s state has been grappling with challenges stemming from how the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services compensates healthcare providers.
    — David Lim, semafor.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Fall leaves create a natural mulch, which helps suppress weeds and improves the soil with organic matter as the leaves decompose.
    — Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Succinonitrile improves the mixture’s flexibility and further supports ion dissociation.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Liquid monomers are applied as a coating before an electron beam rapidly cures them into a finished electrode.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2026
  • How dengue is treated There is no antiviral drug that cures dengue.
    — Andrés Henao, CNN Money, 21 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • If a customer fixes an address but later messages or decisions still use the old one, the correction may not have reached every system.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The gas used in the Holocaust used the same industrial chemistry that fixes nitrogen for the fertilizer that feeds most of the world.
    — Stephen Messer, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • BlackRock's iShares research notes that bonds reemerged in their traditional ballast role in 2025, which partially rehabilitates the 60/40 framework after its 2022 stress.
    — Jason Kirsch, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • The center rescues and rehabilitates orphaned and injured wildlife with the goal of maintaining minimal human contact and releasing animals back to the wild after care.
    — Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 12 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Mends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mends. Accessed 3 Nov. 2026.

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