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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Broken and forlorn, she’s once again isolated…till Wicker Husband reappears—repaired and forgiving. — Valerie Monroe, Allure, 23 Oct. 2026 The new series picks up four years later, as Assane is released and pledges to go straight and repair his relationship with his family, only for a copycat thief to once more drag him to the criminal side. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for repair
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repair
Noun
  • Testing will then progress through increasingly higher power levels, allowing engineers to evaluate the reactor core, instrumentation, and integrated systems under operating conditions.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 30 Oct. 2026
  • More subpoenas were expected, according to the person who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the ongoing probe.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Jennifer Shuford, who had been Texas’s health commissioner, was part of a team hired to restore confidence in the agency.
    — Dan Diamond, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Officials said the speed caps were lifted on Saturday, and the service was restored.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • That is, using AI to fix problems and do work that slows and impedes the creative process.
    — Mark Schilling, Variety, 29 Oct. 2026
  • But fixing this issue is wholly within the power of Gulf states, and the Salalah effort demonstrates there is some interest in doing so.
    — ALLISON MINOR, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The health benefits it is meant to finance aren’t one-time expenses, after all.
    — Ramesh Ponnuru, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Those effects compound quickly in health systems already under strain.
    — Ruby Wang, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Krusty’s attempt to revive his declining show during a Halloween special goes horribly wrong when the Devil arrives to collect on Bart’s deal to eliminate the competition.
    — Joshua Kurp, Vulture, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The sighting of the faceless ghost revived the history of the unsolved murder all over again.
    — Marcus Librizzi, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Teams focused on hardware don’t have the luxury of time afforded to rebuilding teams such as the Bulls, who care more about playing through their young players than racking up wins this season.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
  • This should be particularly troubling to Floridians, whose communities include Nicaraguans who fled persecution and rebuilt their lives in the United States.
    — Lynn Northcutt Vega, Sun Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • David Chokachi is in the best shape of his life thanks, in part, to an unconventional routine.
    — Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Nordic Knots’s rug is one way to add a slight edge to your floors, as its sharp geometry on soft wool juxtaposes the severity of the shapes.
    — Alex Eagle, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • In the lead-up to the event, Apple also refreshed the iMac and entry-level MacBook Pro with M6 chips.
    — Stevie Bonifield, The Verge, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Going forward, every opening or relocation will feature the new store concept, while other units have been refreshed, including the Milan and New York City boutiques which the brand plans to relocate in the next few years.
    — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 30 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Repair.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repair. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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