repair 1 of 2

Definition of repairnext
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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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
The build-up of lactic acid also can trigger muscle repair mechanisms leading to the growth of the muscles as well. Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 12 July 2026 Oftentimes that’s paying a medical bill — an unpaid $5,000 ALS treatment, or $8,000 in dental repairs post a car accident — according to Jensen and Ferrer. Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026
Verb
That includes, but is not limited to, maintenance and repair of streets, sidewalks, parks and public facilities; repairing and replacing aging infrastructure and storm drains; fire protection, paramedics, crime prevention and emergency response. Hannah Elsmore, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 July 2026 Emergency surgery to repair the artery needs to happen within the first couple of hours, Trahanas said. Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 13 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for repair
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repair
Noun
  • During these sleep periods, New Horizons remains in a largely unpowered but stable mode, while its flight computer keeps close tabs on the spacecraft’s condition and sends back a weekly beacon to flight controllers.
    Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
  • School boards and parents are also concerned about children walking to school in pitch-black conditions during winter mornings.
    Yonat Shimron, NPR, 16 July 2026
Verb
  • Dib said Venezuela’s recovery requires rebuilding the rule of law, restoring judicial independence and protecting civic space.
    Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026
  • The hotel’s design concept weaves a story around the fictional historic Lamarck University, an homage to the French evolutionary theorist, which was supposedly founded in 1894, then abandoned in the 1940s, and ultimately restored by Marriott.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026
Verb
  • With the cost base largely fixed, incremental ad and licensing dollars are falling directly to the bottom line.
    Tony Zhang, CNBC, 15 July 2026
  • Some of it is just an extreme version of your grandmother who used to futilely pat the bottom of her chin to fix that waddle.
    Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2026
Noun
  • It's caused not only health issues but financial strain on employees.
    Carmela Karcher, CBS News, 14 July 2026
  • Some politicians have continued to obscure details about their health challenges, asking for privacy despite their public positions, and fueling conspiracy theories.
    ABC News, ABC News, 14 July 2026
Verb
  • Florida State had won 19 consecutive games and appeared on its way to reviving its glory years before the committee’s decision didn’t go its way.
    Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 15 July 2026
  • When Sex and the City was revived as And Just Like That, Cattrall declined to return.
    Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 15 July 2026
Verb
  • Systems can now generate, modify, optimize and rebuild parts of themselves faster than humans can fully understand the downstream consequences.
    Doug Shannon, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
  • If the Benton report shows that the inspector general’s office is on the job, conducting robust and effective investigations, this could help rebuild confidence in an office the public has every reason to doubt.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026
Noun
  • What differentiates Ammortal from the glut of wellness and optimization products on the market, according to its charismatic and observably in-shape founder, is the promise of a more all-encompassing experience of physical and mental restoration.
    Jake Nevins, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2026
  • The compatibility between their shapes allows lactase to break lactose apart into its simple sugar components, which are more easily managed by the digestive system.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 15 July 2026
Verb
  • This past month, when the entire city was in the grip of basketball mania, my eyes have felt newly refreshed by the abundance of royal blue and traffic-cone orange on the streets.
    Sheldon Pearce, New Yorker, 3 July 2026
  • Sue Kim, director of color marketing at Cabot paints, says refreshing these pieces should never erase the charm.
    Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Repair.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repair. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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