1
as in forms
the outward appearance of something as distinguished from its substance
that part of the state is known as the panhandle because of its shape
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in physiques
the type of body that a person has
some specialty clothing stores sell clothing that suits people that have a particular shape
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in adapts
to change (something) so as to make it suitable for a new use or situation
a dress shaped to the customer's particular figure
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in designs
to work out the details of (something) in advance
over the winter the committee shaped the company's new marketing strategy
Synonyms & Similar 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 shapes
Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
This class is for ages 16 and older and includes skills such as how to throw, alter shapes and trim.
—Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
Colorful, translucent magnetic blocks in all manner of sizes and shapes make bringing a vision to life easy.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
Looking ahead, the family hopes to expand Lilo’s brand with educational content for kids, teaching basic concepts like shapes and numbers, while continuing to entertain sports fans around the world.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
The goal is cohesion, and using materials, shapes, and plant groupings that feel intentional—from the curb all the way to the front door.
—Angelika Pokovba, Martha Stewart, 6 Jan. 2026
Fireclay’s Manzanita Gloss, for example, adds dynamic variation and organic richness to simple shapes and neutral colors.
—Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Jan. 2026
Social media captured attention; AI programs behavior, shapes thoughts, and mediates reality.
—Ian Bremmer, Time, 6 Jan. 2026
Two plates of electrically uncharged material — which Casimir envisioned as parallel metal sheets, although other shapes and substances will do — exert a force on each other.
—George Musser, Quanta Magazine, 5 Jan. 2026
Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
Her work explores the tension between family and freedom, grief, and how folklore shapes families and communities.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Jan. 2026
And the Nazca plate, which underlies the eastern Pacific Ocean, also shapes the area’s tectonic scene.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 7 Jan. 2026
At the heart of this book is unfathomable sorrow that shapes the trajectory of all of her relationships and informs her actions and inactions.
—Shruti Mutalik, Baltimore Sun, 7 Jan. 2026
Some of us have been making this music for many decades, and that history still shapes us.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 6 Jan. 2026
That lesson still shapes how Cuba views Washington.
—Eyder Peralta, NPR, 5 Jan. 2026
His impact on that era still shapes how people talk about Nets basketball today.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 5 Jan. 2026
Patients may not fully understand how their information shapes care decisions.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 2 Jan. 2026
Noun
Type of pill Krill oils come in all shapes and sizes of pills.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
This class is for ages 16 and older and includes skills such as how to throw, alter shapes and trim.
—Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
Colorful, translucent magnetic blocks in all manner of sizes and shapes make bringing a vision to life easy.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
Looking ahead, the family hopes to expand Lilo’s brand with educational content for kids, teaching basic concepts like shapes and numbers, while continuing to entertain sports fans around the world.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
The goal is cohesion, and using materials, shapes, and plant groupings that feel intentional—from the curb all the way to the front door.
—Angelika Pokovba, Martha Stewart, 6 Jan. 2026
Fireclay’s Manzanita Gloss, for example, adds dynamic variation and organic richness to simple shapes and neutral colors.
—Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Jan. 2026
Social media captured attention; AI programs behavior, shapes thoughts, and mediates reality.
—Ian Bremmer, Time, 6 Jan. 2026
Two plates of electrically uncharged material — which Casimir envisioned as parallel metal sheets, although other shapes and substances will do — exert a force on each other.
—George Musser, Quanta Magazine, 5 Jan. 2026
Verb
Dark matter is an enigmatic substance that shapes the cosmos and provides it with structure.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
Her work explores the tension between family and freedom, grief, and how folklore shapes families and communities.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Jan. 2026
And the Nazca plate, which underlies the eastern Pacific Ocean, also shapes the area’s tectonic scene.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 7 Jan. 2026
At the heart of this book is unfathomable sorrow that shapes the trajectory of all of her relationships and informs her actions and inactions.
—Shruti Mutalik, Baltimore Sun, 7 Jan. 2026
Some of us have been making this music for many decades, and that history still shapes us.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 6 Jan. 2026
That lesson still shapes how Cuba views Washington.
—Eyder Peralta, NPR, 5 Jan. 2026
His impact on that era still shapes how people talk about Nets basketball today.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 5 Jan. 2026
Patients may not fully understand how their information shapes care decisions.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 2 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shapes
Noun
-
Their latest album, The Sludge of the Land, promises to unsettle your sensibilities by exploring the churning zone of kitsch that lurks behind more respectable musical forms.—
H.D. Angel,
Pitchfork,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Customers are encouraged to mail tax forms well before the deadline and, if a postmark is required, take the documents to a post office counter and request a free manual postmark to ensure the mailing date is clearly recorded.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Despite their absence from television, fans have observed that both Kassidy and Quen have been working on their physiques, showing noticeable changes.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Jost simply ratcheted up the volume and the attacks on soldiers’ physiques.—
Erik Adams,
The Atlantic,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The project, selected for Taiwan Creative Content Fest (TCCF), adapts Chinese-American author Ying Chang Compestine’s bestselling 2016 YA book into a feature-length collection of four interconnected tales.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Everything is without self-consciousness, and adapts and adapts, and just is.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The company designs high-end bikes built to handle the rugged trails of not only the Adirondacks, but all over the world.—
Lauren Breedlove,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Teyana Taylor is a singer, songwriter, choreographer, actor and director who is also currently in culinary school and designs graphic T-shirts and merchandise.—
Jenelle Riley,
Variety,
3 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Western counterparts often acknowledge them privately, even as public backlash from some European institutions and media figures ensued against Rubio’s candor.—
Daniel Ross Goodman,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The Mean Green’s best football season ever wasn’t even over before the major figures from that team left, or announced their intentions to bounce ASAP; when the season did end, moments after UNT defeated San Diego State to win the New Mexico Bowl, is when the great Denton flood began.—
Mac Engel
January 9,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The company's annual survey reveals the most popular side dishes across the nation in 2025 for Thanksgiving dinner, along with standard and changing holiday habits.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Recognizing that pattern can help parents anticipate and take practical steps early, such as helping kids improve hygiene habits and planning for backup child care before illness strikes.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
To maintain precision, KIMM developed a reinforcement learning algorithm that continuously adjusts the nozzle’s aiming angle using six degrees of freedom acceleration data to compensate for wave and hull movement.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The spray nozzle adjusts from a fine mist to a steady stream for careful quantity control.—
Nicole Pyles,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The couple plans to grill hot dogs for the public again Sunday.—
Sean Clancy,
Arkansas Online,
9 Nov. 2025
-
The partnership plans to commence manufacturing at Framatome’s Richland, Washington facility in 2027, pending regulatory approvals.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shapes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shapes. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share