repair 1 of 2

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

repair

2 of 2

verb

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
Meyer will undergo left hip labral repair surgery on Friday in Nashville. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 25 June 2025 Fort Worth will become one of only six sites for maintenance, repairs and overhauls of the LEAP family of engines used by Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX commercial aircraft. Kate Marijolovic, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 June 2025
Verb
Carnival spent $115 million cleaning, repairing, and retrofitting the Triumph. Chris Vognar, Rolling Stone, 24 June 2025 Despite his policy expertise, Murthy’s speech was personal, relating the lowest points in his career and the power of a small group of friends to shift his mindset and repair his spirit. Ann Kowal Smith, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for repair
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repair
Noun
  • It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any mental health condition.
    Rhiannon Frater, USA Today, 30 June 2025
  • Diesel revealed that his return to the eleventh installment of the blockbuster series came with a few non-negotiable conditions—one of which was directly tied to Paul Walker’s iconic role.
    Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • 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
  • The supplementation of vitamin B12 and iron helps restore the most common deficiencies in AG.
    Sayaka Blickenderfer, Health, 28 June 2025
Verb
  • The current rumors are that Apple is willing to pay upwards of $20 billion for a startup to fix its AI strategy—potentially its largest acquisition ever.
    R. Scott Raynovich, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • Turns out what landed him there wasn’t that serious: Beckham underwent a procedure to fix an old injury.
    Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 30 June 2025
Noun
  • The British Royal family health issues have been a major discussion point for what feels like the last year or so.
    Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 28 June 2025
  • Despite its natural sugar, mango did not cause weight gain and may support metabolic health.
    Lauren Manaker MS, Health, 28 June 2025
Verb
  • Other small towns and villages across Italy have offered houses for as little as €1 to revive shrinking communities.
    Laura Begley Bloom, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
  • Starbucks is bulking up staffing as Niccol pushes to revive sales in part by speeding up service.
    Glen Luke Flanagan, Fortune, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • Opened in 1911 to replace a predecessor that burned down in 1909, it was rebuilt with a water tank as storage for future firefighting efforts, Shingle said.
    Rong-Gong Lin II, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025
  • The original hotel, built in 1893, was located on Fifth Avenue and 34th Street, and in 1931 was rebuilt on a city block that stretches between Park and Lexington Avenues, and 49th and 50th Streets.
    Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 28 June 2025
Noun
  • Wreath in shape of football jerseys are displayed at the entrance of the cemetery after the funeral ceremony of Liverpool's Portuguese forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva in Gondomar, on the outskirts of Porto, on July 5, 2025.
    Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 July 2025
  • When selecting a sprinkler, look for one with a coverage pattern that most closely matches the area to be irrigated (the shape and size of the space the sprinkler covers should be listed on the package).
    Steve Bender, Southern Living, 5 July 2025
Verb
  • Noble, who was appointed commander of the MSP last September, said that he’s refreshed the agency’s command staff, including a new deputy superintendent and division commanders.
    Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 2 July 2025
  • Instant classic duets, traditional story songs that felt refreshed and revived, plus crowds shrieking at heartthrobs and roars of approval at the celebration of traditional values of faith, family and freedom dominated the day.
    Kirsten Fiscus, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Repair.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repair. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

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