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 The Royals were rebuilding with first-year manager Matt Quatraro. Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 26 June 2025 Administration officials have even considered encouraging Middle Eastern partners to pay for Iran to rebuild the Fordo nuclear facility as a non-enrichment operation. Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 26 June 2025 Tehran might attempt to rebuild facilities and reconstitute forces in eastern Iran, where Israel’s strike capacity remains much more limited. Sebastien Roblin, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025 Chantel has expressed their strained relationship, and moved back to Los Angeles hoping to rebuild their bond and launch her son’s modeling career. Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 17 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for rebuild
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rebuild
Verb
  • Another team reconstructed remnants of eighth-century-C.E. boats to test on the Charente River in France.
    Nora Bradford, Scientific American, 25 June 2025
  • Now, students will embalm bodies and reconstruct faces in spacious labs equipped with high-tech mortuary tools.
    Calista Oetama, Sacbee.com, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • For the past 20 years, conservationists in Spain worked to rehabilitate their European beaver populations and eventually noticed beavers living closer and closer to the border with Portugal, the organization said.
    Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 13 June 2025
  • Carl Lopp, repeatedly since taking ownership of the property in 1988, promised to rehabilitate the facility with little to show for, one Unified Government commissioner told The Star.
    Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 11 June 2025
Verb
  • The bill is aimed at addressing America's spiraling federal deficit and restoring faith in the government's ability to meet its obligations, especially in areas like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 June 2025
  • From restoring elasticity to quenching dryness and nourishing the skin with essential vitamins and minerals, the best body oils can make everything below the neck supple, satiny, and ready to shine.
    Jenny Berg, Vogue, 28 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rebuild.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rebuild. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on rebuild

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!