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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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
There are still about 20 shops that offer shoe repair services in the metro. — Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2026 The report also tracks nine brand repair programs that were created or expanded in the first half of 2026. — Cleo Levin, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026
Verb
Veteran defender Robin Jansson underwent successful surgery to repair a fracture in the fifth metatarsal of his right foot, the club said in a press release Friday. — Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Oct. 2026 Before passing on a thrifted piece, consider whether the damage is easy to repair. — Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for repair
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repair
Noun
  • The company aims to develop a wider lineup of electric-propulsion ships suited to different operating conditions and customer requirements.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
  • That website works great in the demo—under specific conditions and without users with thumbs for fingers.
    — Brian Jenney, IEEE Spectrum, 23 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Full service was being restored at the end of last week, but Zelenskyy said Monday that the restrictions are still slowing Ukraine's drones along the front.
    — SAMYA KULLAB, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Since then, Netanyahu has been criticized by opponents for failing to deliver on his promise of restoring regional security.
    — Chad de Guzman, Time, 19 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • And while Buffalo and Jacksonville can use the break to rest and recharge, fans in Washington and Los Angeles are hoping a week away might somehow fix what’s gone wrong.
    — Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Tyler is still on the hook to help fix outstanding problems at the treasurer’s office involving property tax revenue payouts and distribution reports to local governments across the county, and pay out refunds to taxpayers.
    — A.D. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Calorie reduction reliably improves health and lifespan in many organisms, including yeast, worms, flies and rodents.
    — Rowan Jacobsen, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Trump did not appear to be aware of the NIH's existing office of women's health research.
    — Dan Diamond, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Ethiopia and Eritrea revive old tensions and grievances Ethiopian authorities accuse the TPLF of seeking an alliance with Eritrea to destabilize Ethiopia, potentially bringing together enemies from the previous war.
    — KHALED KAZZIHA, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2026
  • As hopes to revive it fizzled, enthusiasm to turn the corridor into a long-distance trail climbed.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Crews excavated an 8-acre basin in the infield to serve as a holding pond, while contractors rebuilt the culverts under the track and reinforced the road leading into it.
    — Abe Streep, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026
  • His appointment comes as Iran works to rebuild its military facilities and replenish weapons lost during the war.
    — Khaled Wassef, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The wide-leg pants keep things relaxed, and the ruched waist on the knit top adds shape and makes the whole look feel more polished than a standard sweatshirt set.
    — Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Part of its purpose, from the beginning, was not only to deliver new facts but to interpret ragged events for a nervous audience of relatively prosperous, largely white viewers who shared Wallace’s concern about the shape and tenor of the future.
    — Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Under the pioneering spirit of art director Luca Nichetto, a global roster of names are refreshing this ages-old company’s profile, among them Swedish design studio Claesson Koivisto Rune.
    — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Days ago, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists refreshed its recommendations on menopause treatment options.
    — Lyndon Haviland, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Repair.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repair. Accessed 25 Oct. 2026.

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