rebuild

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb rebuild contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of rebuild are mend, patch, and repair. While all these words mean "to put into good order something that is injured, damaged, or defective," rebuild suggests making like new without completely replacing.

a rebuilt automobile engine

When would mend be a good substitute for rebuild?

The synonyms mend and rebuild are sometimes interchangeable, but mend implies making whole or sound something broken, torn, or injured.

mended the torn dress

Where would patch be a reasonable alternative to rebuild?

The meanings of patch and rebuild largely overlap; however, patch implies an often temporary fixing of a hole or break with new material.

patch worn jeans

When could repair be used to replace rebuild?

In some situations, the words repair and rebuild are roughly equivalent. However, repair applies to the fixing of more extensive damage or dilapidation.

repaired the back steps

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 rebuild In an interview in May with The Korea Times, El-Enany said that, if elected, his first priority would be to rebuild consensus among the UN agency’s member states to reduce political polarization. Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 3 Oct. 2025 As a remake of the original 2013 PS3 game, The Last of Us was rebuilt with better graphics while retaining an authentic experience. PC Magazine, 3 Oct. 2025 India and China will resume direct flights after more than five years as two of the world’s biggest economies seek to rebuild political ties at a time of rising global trade uncertainties. Jordan Blum, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2025 Investigators are trying to determine the fire’s cause, Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District officials said in a Friday update, as Bear West’s owners look to rebuild. Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rebuild
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rebuild
Verb
  • Gein claimed his crimes were driven by a desire to reconstruct his dead mother, Augusta Gein (played by Laurie Metcalf), and was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
    Megan McCluskey, Time, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The Red and Purple Modernization Project is reconstructing infrastructure along those color train lines.
    Dan Mangan, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Although that’s going to be contentious because Hamas is going to try to get involved in that process in order to rehabilitate its image.
    Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
  • But nobody could figure out that he couldn’t be rehabilitated?
    Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Maybe another manager could’ve done or said something to restore their confidence and shake them out of their long funks a little bit quicker.
    Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • As with prevention, daily skin care is foundational, with regular moisturizing needed to restore the protective barrier.
    Daryl Austin, USA Today, 7 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Rebuild.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rebuild. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on rebuild

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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