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
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Recent Examples of shapes
Gabe Montesanti, PEOPLE, 19 Apr. 2026
Now in its 10th year in the Golden State, TinyFest brings together dozens of homebuilders and merchants who showcase the concept, their many shapes and forms, all in one place.
—Amancai Biraben, Oc Register, 18 Apr. 2026
The performers do wear costumes, which hark to 19th-century shapes but use sparkly fabrics that are more reminiscent of now and possibly the future.
—Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 18 Apr. 2026
Some of these are arranged into more staid compositions of geometric bands of color, while others bend and bulge into shapes evoking the baroque ruination of junk-yard findings.
—Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026
Diet shapes destiny The dietary changes in the East African Rift Valley over the past 4 million years, documented through tooth enamel, are providing important clues for reconstructing the environment in which humans’ ancestors lived and how those environments changed.
—Zelalem Bedaso, The Conversation, 17 Apr. 2026
Today, fountains can be found across KC’s courtyards, plazas and boulevards in all shapes and sizes.
—Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2026
This season offers ultra-textured planters in faux volcanic rock and concrete in shapes both modern and traditional.
—Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Apr. 2026
Natural materials and soft shapes add warmth and balance sharp lines in small spaces.
—Marisa Suzanne Martin, The Spruce, 15 Apr. 2026
Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 20 Apr. 2026
Brent now lives in New York with his family—his husband, fellow designer Nate Berkus, and their two children, Poppy and Oskar—but Los Angeles still shapes the cadence of his life.
—John Wogan, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2026
Costume design by Shirley Richardson and Dunia Pacheco shapes the production’s sense of time and character.
—Amy Reyes, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2026
Her writing is assured and radiant; her fluid imagination shapes lush worlds, at once uncanny and beautiful.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Apr. 2026
This rhetoric shapes popular understandings of Islam in troubling ways.
—Anna Piela, The Conversation, 13 Apr. 2026
But director Rachel Dretzin shapes Marie’s footage and fresh interviews into an unusual but worthy tale of one woman’s commitment to bring down an evildoer.
—Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
From the opening scene of the family’s move to town, the soft and wistful light shapes the film’s emotional world.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
Her confidence is assured and admirable—the precision of her cooking and the generosity that shapes her leadership.
—Julie Lin, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
The results were colorful, bursting with shapes and patterns, but often totally bizarre.
—Gabe Montesanti, PEOPLE, 19 Apr. 2026
Now in its 10th year in the Golden State, TinyFest brings together dozens of homebuilders and merchants who showcase the concept, their many shapes and forms, all in one place.
—Amancai Biraben, Oc Register, 18 Apr. 2026
The performers do wear costumes, which hark to 19th-century shapes but use sparkly fabrics that are more reminiscent of now and possibly the future.
—Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 18 Apr. 2026
Some of these are arranged into more staid compositions of geometric bands of color, while others bend and bulge into shapes evoking the baroque ruination of junk-yard findings.
—Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026
Diet shapes destiny The dietary changes in the East African Rift Valley over the past 4 million years, documented through tooth enamel, are providing important clues for reconstructing the environment in which humans’ ancestors lived and how those environments changed.
—Zelalem Bedaso, The Conversation, 17 Apr. 2026
Today, fountains can be found across KC’s courtyards, plazas and boulevards in all shapes and sizes.
—Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2026
This season offers ultra-textured planters in faux volcanic rock and concrete in shapes both modern and traditional.
—Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Apr. 2026
Natural materials and soft shapes add warmth and balance sharp lines in small spaces.
—Marisa Suzanne Martin, The Spruce, 15 Apr. 2026
Verb
These are films in which marijuana shapes not just the tone, rhythm, and plot, but also the worldviews of the characters themselves.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 20 Apr. 2026
Brent now lives in New York with his family—his husband, fellow designer Nate Berkus, and their two children, Poppy and Oskar—but Los Angeles still shapes the cadence of his life.
—John Wogan, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2026
Costume design by Shirley Richardson and Dunia Pacheco shapes the production’s sense of time and character.
—Amy Reyes, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2026
Her writing is assured and radiant; her fluid imagination shapes lush worlds, at once uncanny and beautiful.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Apr. 2026
This rhetoric shapes popular understandings of Islam in troubling ways.
—Anna Piela, The Conversation, 13 Apr. 2026
But director Rachel Dretzin shapes Marie’s footage and fresh interviews into an unusual but worthy tale of one woman’s commitment to bring down an evildoer.
—Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
From the opening scene of the family’s move to town, the soft and wistful light shapes the film’s emotional world.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
Her confidence is assured and admirable—the precision of her cooking and the generosity that shapes her leadership.
—Julie Lin, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shapes
Noun
-
Broadly speaking, the panel was addressed to the arts, not only the visual arts but also all forms of writing, including journalism.—
John McPhee,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Solar energy is still one of the cheapest forms of energy, and energy is in higher demand than ever, partly due to artificial intelligence data center construction.—
Ayurella Horn-Muller,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The trend also comes at a time when weight-loss medications are on the rise, more ultra-thin physiques appear to dominate red carpets and some social media users have built platforms off the outward pursuit of thinness.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Thanks in part to Ozempic, thin is back in, with once-plus-size celebrities sporting svelter physiques, and some already-slim stars now verging on gaunt.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Instead of selling a standardized workflow across sectors, the winning play may be offering sector-specific intelligence that adapts to how each industry actually works.—
Michael Jacobides,
Fortune,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Indie horror darling David Bruckner has been tapped to direct the feature project that adapts the upcoming book by Marcus Kliewer and that was initially set up as short story in 2022.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The piece takes inspiration from Chinese fretwork patterns, Art Noveau designs and German sculptor Hugo Leven’s iconic pewter bat candelabras.—
Julissa James,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
-
While Tesla designs its own autopilot FSD chips, Musk’s companies have never manufactured semiconductors.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
While many departures could be precautionary rather than permanent, the figures point to a rupture in what had been a steady migration from Britain to the Gulf.—
Emma Graham,Sawdah Bhaimiya,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The recent figures don’t represent a retreat for the sector; on the contrary, 2025 was a record year for climate fund closes.—
Natasha Bracken,
semafor.com,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
As the Moon moves into Cancer, your attention shifts to spending, priorities, and the habits tied to both.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Our beliefs, attitudes and habits can either reinforce or challenge ageism.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This flexible holder attaches easily to your seatback tray table and adjusts to multiple angles, allowing for hands-free viewing without craning your neck.—
Samantha Leal,
Travel + Leisure,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Most TVs have an ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts the panel brightness based on the room's lighting.—
Will Greenwald,
PC Magazine,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Kenya, for instance, plans to bring a small modular reactor online in 2034 after starting the first phase in 2009.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Asher Bende plans to major in music education and aspires to become a music educator.—
Elizabeth Marie Himchak,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shapes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shapes. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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