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as in to revive
to bring back to life, practice, or activity the spate of recent movies based on classic comic book characters has renewed interest in the comics themselves

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
as in to repeat
to make or do again I can only renew my offer to help—it's up to them to accept it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb renew differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of renew are refresh, rejuvenate, renovate, and restore. While all these words mean "to make like new," renew implies a restoration of what had become faded or disintegrated so that it seems like new.

efforts to renew the splendor of the old castle

When might refresh be a better fit than renew?

The words refresh and renew can be used in similar contexts, but refresh implies the supplying of something necessary to restore lost strength, animation, or power.

a refreshing drink

When is it sensible to use rejuvenate instead of renew?

In some situations, the words rejuvenate and renew are roughly equivalent. However, rejuvenate suggests the restoration of youthful vigor, powers, or appearance.

the change in jobs rejuvenated her spirits

When can renovate be used instead of renew?

The words renovate and renew are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, renovate suggests a renewing by cleansing, repairing, or rebuilding.

the apartment has been entirely renovated

When is restore a more appropriate choice than renew?

While the synonyms restore and renew are close in meaning, restore implies a return to an original state after depletion or loss.

restored a fine piece of furniture

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 renew Hulu renewed the series for 20 episodes in October 2024, following the success of season 1. Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Nov. 2025 Currently, he exec produces and stars in the BET+ comedy Churchy, which premiered in February 2024 and has been renewed for a second season. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2025 The program’s funding is currently renewed on an annual basis, which creates uncertainty about its ongoing viability among film companies that tend to plan projects far in advance. Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2025 The city asked voters to renew its public safety millage. Lily Altavena, Freep.com, 5 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for renew
Recent Examples of Synonyms for renew
Verb
  • About 1,500 employees in the state Department of Human Services' Division of County Operations will be furloughed Friday unless federal funding is restored, according to the agency's website.
    Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Sherrill’s campaign had focused on restoring trust in government, fixing New Jersey’s troubled infrastructure, and lowering costs for middle-class families.
    Nik Popli, Time, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The company spins off from the fund and continues as a stand-alone.
    Shawn Tully, Fortune, 1 Nov. 2025
  • The sessions will continue in the Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, a private island sanctuary in the Bahamas, where guests will learn about coral restoration and marine protection, before sailing the turquoise waters with Horn to see the importance of protecting the delicate underwater ecosystems.
    Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Biden was even less enthusiastic about reviving international economic institutions.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
  • That, plus the prospect of tax hikes, is reviving interest in real estate in the city’s affluent suburbs.
    Diane Brady, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The score consists of fifty-three melodic cells in and around the key of C; the performers are directed to move through these cells at their own pace, repeating them at will before moving on to the next.
    Alex Ross, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
  • Looking to repeat, the Gators own the best frontcourt in college basketball thanks to Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon, Rueben Chinyelu and Micah Handlogten returning.
    Scott Phillips, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Screens displayed the election results, periodically refreshed as onlookers awaited the most recent vote tally.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Instead, Mike’s work empowers patients to preserve their individuality while feeling refreshed, confident, and wholly themselves.
    Malana VanTyler, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Ford said after talking with Prime Minister Mark Carney he’s decided to pause the advertising campaign effective Monday so that trade talks can resume.
    Rob Gillies, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Matthews shows signs that normal service is resuming Quick release.
    Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Everyone on the Bears is a hero, and Matthau— not just coach, but surrogate father—has been resurrected.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Nov. 2025
  • The new all-ages event space resurrected the store's tradition of hosting in-store live music events on Broad Ripple's main strip.
    Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Given chances to replicate his pivots toward moderation on subjects like Wall Street, housing, and policing, Mamdani did not bend on the Middle East.
    Philip Elliott, Time, 5 Nov. 2025
  • In a similar vein, Timnit Gebru, a computer scientist writing during her time working at Google, warned of the dangers of large language models acting as stochastic parrots, which repeat language patterns without understanding, and in doing so replicate the biases embedded in their training data.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Renew.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/renew. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.

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