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
  • In that dialogue, Endymion, the mythical shepherd, is imprisoned in an eternal sleep by Artemis and accosts a stranger who is on his way to Mount Latmus, where Endymion repairs each night to wait for Artemis.
    — Max Norman, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Israel bars entry of almost all construction materials, making even repairs difficult.
    — Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The Commanders now face the prospect of playing at least one game and probably more with Mariota, and perhaps another quarterback, while Daniels recovers.
    — Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 21 Sep. 2026
  • To be sure, Bespoke data shows the S & P 500 eventually recovers.
    — Fred Imbert, CNBC, 21 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • See God’s face in the love that heals a world’s hurt and hate.
    — Kit Cornell Kurtz, Christian Science Monitor, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Colorful gems and pearls surround XL sparkling Hello Kitty charms, turning each nail into a nostalgic statement that heals your inner child.
    — Amanda Le, InStyle, 24 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Pay now or later, or not at all Some mutual fund share classes charge a sales commission, or load, that compensates the broker or advisor who sells the fund.
    — Debbie Carlson, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Sep. 2026
  • That's because the remaining healthy testicle often compensates by producing enough testosterone and sperm on its own.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 22 July 2026
Verb
  • This not only improves energy efficiency but also creates additional work to build smart controls, battery systems, microgrids, and distributed energy infrastructure.
    — Kevin Williams, CNBC, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Houston falls to 8-3-3 at home, while Sporting KC improves to 3-10-0 on the road.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • How dengue is treated There is no antiviral drug that cures dengue.
    — Andrés Henao, CNN Money, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Well, nothing cures a team’s woes more than playing Colorado.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • That may be as important as anything Marshall fixes on film this week.
    — Taylor Eldridge, Kansas City Star, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Imagine hotels doing the same—where the building senses friction, predicts needs and quietly fixes problems before a guest ever notices.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 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 28 Sep. 2026.

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