SHAPED (UP) Synonyms: 33 Similar and Opposite Words

shaped (up) 1 of 2

verb (1)

past tense of shape (up)

as in formed

to take on a definite form this group of summer interns is shaping up to be one of the best we've ever hired

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shaped up

2 of 2

verb (2)

past tense of shape up

as in straightened (up or out)

to change one's behavior or character for the better told his son that if he didn't shape up, he'd be grounded for a month

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Recent Examples of shaped (up)

Verb

Frost, who led Nebraska to two national titles as a quarterback, likes the way his quarterback room has shaped up over the past eight months. — Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026 Stacey Barchenger Warren Petersen and Rodney Glassman crisscrossed the state for more than a year courting Republican voters in what shaped up to be a bruising primary election race. — Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 21 July 2026 In Texas, a heated and expensive race has shaped up between Democrat James Talarico, a state representative who is facing Republican Ken Paxton, the state attorney general. — Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026 The home has shaped up since then. — Vaishnavi Nayel Talawadekar, Architectural Digest, 4 June 2026 Like so many Bay Area voters, Wagner opted to hold his vote and watch how the close race for governor shaped up — particularly on the Democratic side, where a throng of candidates competed fiercely for voters and resisted the calls of party leaders to drop out. — Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 2 June 2026 The battle shaped up with 2,800 Americans facing 8,000 Hessians (mercenary soldiers from six German territories in the Holy Roman Empire. — Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2026 Carl Wilson held a lead Tuesday night in the special election for a City Council seat on Manhattan’s West Side against Lindsey Boylan, in what has shaped up as a proxy battle in the ongoing power struggle between Mayor Mamdani and Council Speaker Julie Menin. — Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 29 Apr. 2026 After the cold open, however, the episode shaped up to be a solid one. — Charu Sinha, Vulture, 15 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shaped (up)

Verb

The gigantic sinkhole, which formed in the driveway of the Malibu, California, home, is estimated to be up to 30 feet deep, 30 feet wide and 60 feet long, according to a proclamation of a local emergency issued by the City of Malibu.

— Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026
New partnerships were formed to quickly turn laboratory research into practical tools for manufacturers.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of formed

Verb

In that context, the extra lending since the end of June and the peculiarities of that Gordon transfer instalment make plenty of sense, as the club continues to lose cash each season, even as underlying profitability measures are much improved.

— Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
The institute says future progress will therefore depend not only on better algorithms, but also on common standards, interoperable interfaces, realistic testing and improved resistance to electronic interference.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of improved

Verb

In 2006, Joseph pursued ballot measures that would have amended Proposition 103 amid an effort by John Garamendi, the insurance commissioner at the time, to tighten the ZIP code regulations established by his predecessor.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
The golfer, who changed his plea in the DUI case from not guilty to no contest, had one charge amended to Local 1 reckless driving and a second charge altered to a careless driving citation as part of a plea deal, according to court records.

— Jaclyn Hendricks, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of amended

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shaped

shaped (up)

shaped up

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“Shaped (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shaped%20%28up%29. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of shaped (up)

verb (1)

verb (2)

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