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
Smart buildings also deliver predictive maintenance by sensing when fixtures, parts and machines are encountering issues, thus reducing downtime and repair costs. Oliver Phillips, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025 The Federal Highway Trust Fund, which helps pay for the cost of road repairs across the country, is running out of money. Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 May 2025
Verb
There are still a few hurdles ahead of him — namely recovery from wrist surgery to repair an injury that hampered him in 2024 — but signs point to the eight-time Pro Bowler being here at the start of the season. C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 22 May 2025 In fact, many members of the crew have been involved in repairing the homes of their protagonists; and an all-filmmakers volunteer team has even opened a charitable foundation that raises outside money and brings in materials to rebuild liberated villages. Lauren Wissot, IndieWire, 21 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for repair
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repair
Noun
  • His official cause of death was acute hypoxic respiratory failure, which is a condition where the lungs aren't able to release enough oxygen into the bloodstream.
    Keith Langston, People.com, 25 May 2025
  • Mosquitoes may be coming to you As temperatures rise in numerous parts of the world, researchers have been fairly convinced that mosquitoes seeking warmer conditions will settle in previously uninhabitable areas.
    Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 25 May 2025
Verb
  • Other students, whose schools canceled the exam before access was restored, raged against having to gear up for the test again in the future.
    Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 23 May 2025
  • The four-floor building incorporates Washington, DC’s oldest synagogue, with the 146-year-old historic brick synagogue moved and restored to sit alongside the modern museum building at the corner of 3rd and F Streets NW.
    Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • The microscopic gene-editors zeroed in on one of Muldoon's mutations so tiny molecular scissors could perform a kind of genetic surgery — literally rewriting his genetic code to fix his defect.
    Rob Stein, NPR, 15 May 2025
  • The incident may cost Coinbase up to $400 million to fix, the company estimated.
    Tanaya Macheel, CNBC, 15 May 2025
Noun
  • And not just for personal health, but for workforce health, talent retention, and organizational resilience.
    Brent Gleeson, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
  • Athletes assume all sorts of health risks by playing a sport.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • Funding for Trump’s mass deportation operation The legislation would provide $46.5 billion to revive construction of Trump’s wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, and more money for the deportation agenda.
    Kevin Freking, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2025
  • The cast includes Uma Thurman and David Zayas, reviving his portrayal of Det.
    Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025
Verb
  • Less than a week after the explosion destroyed his fertility clinic, Dr. Maher Abdallah vows to rebuild.
    Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2025
  • People rebuilt and reimagined their communities with the help of everything their ancestors left behind, while also, perhaps, vowing not to repeat their mistakes.
    Lizzie Wade, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • Amazon Just Canceled The No. 2 Show In Its Top 10 List Ergonomic Shape And Angle The MX Ergo S trackball has a shape that’s similar to the legendary Logitech MX 3S mouse, probably one of the most popular premium mice on the market.
    Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025
  • California Spider monkey found in Rolls-Royce during traffic stop in critical shape.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2025
Verb
  • While the talk was all about tariffs and a flight from U.S. assets in April, most of the big cloud platforms reaffirmed their eye-watering capex plans and the AI story has refreshed itself, for now, with most of the big players rebuilding toward recent peak valuations.
    Michael Santoli, CNBC, 17 May 2025
  • The sculptural and scalloped look—covered in soft pleats—was refreshed for the modern-day, and required 250 hours of work.
    Christian Allaire, Vogue, 17 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Repair.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repair. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

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