1
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
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2
as in brass tacks
the specific practical details of something
still learning the ropes of her new job
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ropes
Loren Savini, Allure, 20 May 2026
Instead of floating surface buoys tethered to traps, the system stores ropes and buoys on the seafloor until fishermen return and trigger an acoustic release that brings the gear to the surface.
—ABC News, 20 May 2026
Founded in 1968, West Marine began with founder Randy Repass selling nautical ropes by mail from his Sunnyvale, California garage.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 18 May 2026
Eventually, several crew members descended downward from the helicopter on ropes, retrieved the hiker and hoisted him back up.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 17 May 2026
The ropes keeping the paps and lookie-loos out — and the celebrities and scene-makers in — go up days before the event actually starts, with just enough distance between the two groups to keep it interesting.
—Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2026
Amusingly and in keeping with Philadelphia, the handful of fans who did find their way to the ropes crafted their own nickname.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 15 May 2026
For Christmas Day 2022, big brother Wyatt showed his lil bro the ropes, as Sebastian was celebrating his first big holiday.
—Diane J. Cho, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026
On the ropes Starmer’s premiership has been imperiled by the huge losses Labor suffered in local and regional elections last week.
—Pan Pylas, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
Noun
Below, our experts break down the cool-girl makeup trends for summer that will have velvet ropes dropping for you.
—Loren Savini, Allure, 20 May 2026
Instead of floating surface buoys tethered to traps, the system stores ropes and buoys on the seafloor until fishermen return and trigger an acoustic release that brings the gear to the surface.
—ABC News, 20 May 2026
Founded in 1968, West Marine began with founder Randy Repass selling nautical ropes by mail from his Sunnyvale, California garage.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 18 May 2026
Eventually, several crew members descended downward from the helicopter on ropes, retrieved the hiker and hoisted him back up.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 17 May 2026
The ropes keeping the paps and lookie-loos out — and the celebrities and scene-makers in — go up days before the event actually starts, with just enough distance between the two groups to keep it interesting.
—Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2026
Amusingly and in keeping with Philadelphia, the handful of fans who did find their way to the ropes crafted their own nickname.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 15 May 2026
For Christmas Day 2022, big brother Wyatt showed his lil bro the ropes, as Sebastian was celebrating his first big holiday.
—Diane J. Cho, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026
On the ropes Starmer’s premiership has been imperiled by the huge losses Labor suffered in local and regional elections last week.
—Pan Pylas, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ropes
Noun
-
Granted, the cast is skilled enough to work these intimate specifics into (and beneath) their conversations, but the details are often dropped into these empty spaces after long delays, a kind of Tetris storytelling that works far more as an intellectual exercise than an emotional one.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
14 May 2026
-
Fox News Digital reporting outlines the specifics of the recall, the nature of the safety flaw, and what this setback means for the future of fully autonomous transportation on public roads.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Quentin Tarantino’s The Whole Bloody Affair ties together both volumes of Kill Bill into a four-and-a-half-hour experience, complete with intermission.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
22 May 2026
-
Fresh off the first MVP season of his 17-year NFL career, the Los Angeles Rams signed Matthew Stafford to a one-year, $55 million contract extension that ties him to the Rams through the 2027 season with $105 million in remaining compensation, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.—
Kurt Badenhausen,
Sportico.com,
22 May 2026
Noun
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The children are all remembered for their quirks and love of family.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
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One of the new quirks of the 2026 schedule involves Watkins Glen International, site of this weekend’s Cup Series race, shifting from its longstanding late summer date to Mother’s Day weekend.—
Jordan Bianchi,
New York Times,
8 May 2026
Verb
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So she was drawn to Laikipia Evolution, a story that threads together colonialism and land renewal and ways that responsible safari tourism can really benefit local communities.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
15 May 2026
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In real life, Roth watched the world adapt to the pandemic and felt inspired to write about how panic threads itself into the fabric of society.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
For a more practical outfit, pair this similar brown skirt with a denim jacket that cinches at the waist.—
Jacqueline Tempera,
PEOPLE,
19 May 2026
-
For a sporty option, try a funnel neck bomber jacket, and opt for one that cinches at the waist or hip to accentuate your shape.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ropes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ropes. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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