repair 1 of 2

Definition of repairnext
as in condition
a state of being or fitness the dining table is in good repair, so you won't need to refinish it

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb repair contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of repair are mend, patch, and rebuild. While all these words mean "to put into good order something that is injured, damaged, or defective," repair applies to the fixing of more extensive damage or dilapidation.

repaired the back steps

When is mend a more appropriate choice than repair?

In some situations, the words mend and repair are roughly equivalent. However, mend implies making whole or sound something broken, torn, or injured.

mended the torn dress

When is it sensible to use patch instead of repair?

While the synonyms patch and repair are close in meaning, patch implies an often temporary fixing of a hole or break with new material.

patch worn jeans

Where would rebuild be a reasonable alternative to repair?

The words rebuild and repair are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, rebuild suggests making like new without completely replacing.

a rebuilt automobile engine

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 repair
Noun
Renovations, replacement equipment and previous repairs can all become part of the background without being directly connected to an injury. — Emma Clapp, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026 The Clean Energy Choice Act, introduced by Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park), requires utilities to offer homeowners a financial incentive to disconnect from gas and electrify the home when gas service line repairs are scheduled. — Molly McCrea, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Verb
Veteran defender Robin Jansson underwent successful surgery to repair a fracture in the fifth metatarsal of his right foot, the club said in a press release Friday. — Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Oct. 2026 Before passing on a thrifted piece, consider whether the damage is easy to repair. — Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for repair
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repair
Noun
  • The Singapore Shipping Association also played down the prospect of a broad withdrawal of commercial shipping from the region, suggesting operators would instead adapt to changing trade conditions.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The team also evaluated methods for attaching sensors to storage casks, with the aim of developing installations capable of remaining in place for years under high-temperature and high-radiation conditions.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Full service was being restored at the end of last week, but Zelenskyy said Monday that the restrictions are still slowing Ukraine's drones along the front.
    — SAMYA KULLAB, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Since then, Netanyahu has been criticized by opponents for failing to deliver on his promise of restoring regional security.
    — Chad de Guzman, Time, 19 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The reality is that organizing alone can’t fix a system stacked against us.
    — Liz Shuler, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Gass said the company acted fast to fix this by putting more inventory behind popular trends such as low-rise jeans, stepping up marketing to boost customer traffic and improving store and digital checkout rates.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Calorie reduction reliably improves health and lifespan in many organisms, including yeast, worms, flies and rodents.
    — Rowan Jacobsen, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Trump did not appear to be aware of the NIH's existing office of women's health research.
    — Dan Diamond, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Ethiopia and Eritrea revive old tensions and grievances Ethiopian authorities accuse the TPLF of seeking an alliance with Eritrea to destabilize Ethiopia, potentially bringing together enemies from the previous war.
    — KHALED KAZZIHA, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2026
  • As hopes to revive it fizzled, enthusiasm to turn the corridor into a long-distance trail climbed.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Crews excavated an 8-acre basin in the infield to serve as a holding pond, while contractors rebuilt the culverts under the track and reinforced the road leading into it.
    — Abe Streep, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026
  • His appointment comes as Iran works to rebuild its military facilities and replenish weapons lost during the war.
    — Khaled Wassef, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The wide-leg pants keep things relaxed, and the ruched waist on the knit top adds shape and makes the whole look feel more polished than a standard sweatshirt set.
    — Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Part of its purpose, from the beginning, was not only to deliver new facts but to interpret ragged events for a nervous audience of relatively prosperous, largely white viewers who shared Wallace’s concern about the shape and tenor of the future.
    — Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Google’s November 13, 2025 holiday shopping update began rolling out agentic checkout and emphasized the scale of its Shopping Graph, with more than 50 billion product listings and 2 billion refreshed every hour.
    — Lauren Schuster, Sacbee.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • What could be next Secondhand clothing and inexpensive accessories offer plenty of ways to refresh a wardrobe without starting over.
    — Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Repair.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repair. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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