ROPES Synonyms: 64 Similar and Opposite Words

ropes 1 of 2

noun

plural of rope

as in mechanics

the characteristic peculiarities and technicalities of something needs a mentor who will show her the ropes of running a catering business

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in brass tacks

the specific practical details of something still learning the ropes of her new job

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

big picture

ropes

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of rope

as in wires

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Dissimilar Words

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 ropes

Noun

Harbaugh had been an assistant coach elsewhere, learning the ropes as an offensive consultant at Western Kentucky and quarterbacks coach for the Oakland Raiders, but this was his first chance to be a head coach. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026 About 40 other passengers were evacuated by Ski Patrol using ropes while the lift remained suspended. — Brian Maass, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026 But as Reigns bounced off the ropes, Rollins hit Reigns with a spear. — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 2026 But Roy Cohn—an American scoundrel and the lawyer who helped send Julius and Ethel Rosenberg to the electric chair, aided Senator Joseph McCarthy in implementing the Red Scare, and showed Trump the ropes in the real-estate business—was long gone. — Kai Bird, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026 Punk connected with the GTS again, but was too close to the ropes so Rhodes got the rope break at the very last second. — Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026 Some locations have bocce and pickleball courts; other chains have added ropes courses and axe-throwing. — Sophia Nguyen, The Atlantic, 2 Aug. 2026 The pet-friendly property has an impressive lineup of adventurous activities for guests, including horseback riding, rodeo 101 courses, hiking, archery, a shooting range, ropes course, float trips, sapphire mining, UTV tours, ice fishing and more. — Rebecca R. Norris, USA Today, 31 July 2026 Joshua unleashed a flurry of fists and finished Prenga with a right hook, sending the Albanian through the bottom of the ropes. — ABC News, 25 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ropes

Noun

Reeve and Cunningham were seen having a spirited conversation at half-court before the game, though both declined to detail the specifics of their talk with media.

— Kase Wickman, Vanity Fair, 12 Aug. 2026
Many specifics remain unclear, but one idea would be to match up play-in teams across conferences, rather than within a conference or based solely on CFP selection committee rankings.

— Chris Vannini, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of specifics

Noun

For once the story seems less about progress in the nuts and bolts of how the cars weave their way around road hazards.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 20 June 2026
Some of my favorite Bonanza episodes were about the nuts and bolts of the Cartwrights’ cattle business and the kind of money their 2,000-acre spread generated from lumber.

— Noel Murray, Vulture, 5 June 2026

Definition of nuts and bolts

Verb

The Frontier Act threads the needle on this by creating lanes where states can still pass their own laws — such as around consumer safety that would protect children or stop pornography.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 July 2026
Another option is a minimally invasive repair that threads a stent into the artery to close the torn vessel lining.

— Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 15 July 2026

Definition of threads

Noun

Cristin Milioti was in her sweet spot as lovable mess Hazel, who left college a decade ago to marry tech titan Byron Gogol (Billy Magnussen), a control-freak inventor whose toxic quirks evoke many real-world counterparts.

— Judy Berman, Time, 11 Aug. 2026
Roberts was known for his meticulous preparation, which included visiting out-of-town courtrooms to gather intel on judges’ quirks and preferences.

— Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of quirks

Verb

This cinches everything into place, while also tightening down the jaws of the hasps so they can't be opened until the Cordalock is unlocked.

— Ben Coxworth July 18, New Atlas, 18 July 2026
The high-rise silhouette cinches your waist, too, for a comfortable yet flattering fit.

— Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 July 2026

Definition of cinches

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rope (in)

ropes

ropes (in)

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Style

“Ropes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ropes. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of ropes

noun

verb

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