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
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Recent Examples of shapes
Staff, USA Today, 8 June 2026
Chestnuts bloom in these graceful, long pine-tree shapes, which look like a symbol of something.
—Literary Hub, 8 June 2026
The pieces are abstract but appear to show featureless human figures sitting atop globular, cloud-like shapes that float in the air.
—Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 7 June 2026
Scenes of furious sketching, intricate designs of delicate cutouts and swirling shapes and fabrics, pinning, sewing and the bustle of runway shows alternate with fretting about how to pay the rent.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 7 June 2026
The former elementary schoolteacher is now an online influencer, whose content celebrates people of all shapes, including her own.
—Tracy Smith, CBS News, 7 June 2026
The pairing put one of Chloé’s more retro-leaning heel shapes against a dress that stayed in a the house’s signature boho romantic language.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 6 June 2026
Perry loves short, tubular shapes for catching all those flavorful bread crumbs and cheese.
—Deputy Food Editor, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2026
Plant it alongside garden phlox and purple coneflower for a pleasing contrast of shapes and textures.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 May 2026
Ben Smith, semafor.com, 8 June 2026
For women approaching menopause with significant symptoms, the conversation about hormone therapy is worth having with current evidence rather than the 20-year-old data that still shapes much of the surrounding fear.
—Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 June 2026
Today, the web of passions and ambitions that shapes the dazzling life of Julien Sorel returns at the heart of a major production.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 8 June 2026
That demand shapes what shows up on the cart.
—Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 8 June 2026
Our May 2026 study considers how party affiliation shapes universities’ earmark outcomes.
—Heather McCambly, The Conversation, 8 June 2026
Barra has said that growing up in manufacturing proved fundamental to her leadership, giving her firsthand insight into how every step of the production process shapes the final product.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 7 June 2026
Manufacturing data shapes future planning.
—Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 4 June 2026
Emerging national data reinforce that residency training not only shapes clinicians but also determines who is ultimately allowed to enter the physician workforce.
—Vanessa Grubbs, STAT, 1 June 2026
Noun
As the rocks eroded and wore away into their iconic shapes, there were Indigenous people who hunted, gathered and farmed beside them.
—Staff, USA Today, 8 June 2026
Chestnuts bloom in these graceful, long pine-tree shapes, which look like a symbol of something.
—Literary Hub, 8 June 2026
The pieces are abstract but appear to show featureless human figures sitting atop globular, cloud-like shapes that float in the air.
—Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 7 June 2026
Scenes of furious sketching, intricate designs of delicate cutouts and swirling shapes and fabrics, pinning, sewing and the bustle of runway shows alternate with fretting about how to pay the rent.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 7 June 2026
The former elementary schoolteacher is now an online influencer, whose content celebrates people of all shapes, including her own.
—Tracy Smith, CBS News, 7 June 2026
The pairing put one of Chloé’s more retro-leaning heel shapes against a dress that stayed in a the house’s signature boho romantic language.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 6 June 2026
Perry loves short, tubular shapes for catching all those flavorful bread crumbs and cheese.
—Deputy Food Editor, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2026
Plant it alongside garden phlox and purple coneflower for a pleasing contrast of shapes and textures.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 May 2026
Verb
As Silicon Valley’s artificial intelligence boom powers America’s economy, rattles its job market, and shapes its national security priorities, political leaders are struggling for traction on how the government should seek to engage the technology, if at all.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 8 June 2026
For women approaching menopause with significant symptoms, the conversation about hormone therapy is worth having with current evidence rather than the 20-year-old data that still shapes much of the surrounding fear.
—Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 June 2026
Today, the web of passions and ambitions that shapes the dazzling life of Julien Sorel returns at the heart of a major production.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 8 June 2026
That demand shapes what shows up on the cart.
—Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 8 June 2026
Our May 2026 study considers how party affiliation shapes universities’ earmark outcomes.
—Heather McCambly, The Conversation, 8 June 2026
Barra has said that growing up in manufacturing proved fundamental to her leadership, giving her firsthand insight into how every step of the production process shapes the final product.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 7 June 2026
Manufacturing data shapes future planning.
—Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 4 June 2026
Emerging national data reinforce that residency training not only shapes clinicians but also determines who is ultimately allowed to enter the physician workforce.
—Vanessa Grubbs, STAT, 1 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shapes
Noun
-
The administration has cracked down on most forms of migration for foreigners — demanding that bonds of up to $15,000 be paid for visa processing in some, mainly African, countries and requiring years of personal history, including social media accounts, to be vetted.—
Matthew Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
-
The downturn started with the ubiquity of smartphones, social media, and various forms of educational technology that have proved inefficient, with the pandemic acting as an accelerant.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
Then these same superhero physiques appeared in rom-coms and dramas as regular-degular guys, muscles included.—
José Criales-Unzueta,
Vanity Fair,
13 May 2026
-
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
Verb
-
The fashionable drama major is rumored to be at the center of Off Campus Season 2, if the show adapts Kennedy’s third Off-Campus book, The Score.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
28 May 2026
-
Yaupon holly adapts to dry soil but should be watered regularly until established.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Brown also designs outdoor gardens.—
Emily M. Olson,
Hartford Courant,
6 June 2026
-
Broadcom lost 12% after the company, which designs and makes customized artificial intelligence chips for other technology names, reported weaker-than-expected earnings on Wednesday.—
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Inspired by figures like Jack Greenberg, the longtime head of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Dan chose public service, centering his path on helping the underserved while challenging entrenched systems of inequality.—
Joel Rubin,
New York Daily News,
9 June 2026
-
An alliance of prominent French business, publishing and film figures has joined forces to revive one of the most storied venues in Paris cinephilia, with luxury house Chanel serving as lead partner behind the reopening of the historic Saint-Germain-des-Prés cinema.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
Online resale app Vinted is seeing a structural shift in consumer behaviour, as habits form around the resale economy, the company’s marketplace boss told CNBC on Monday.—
Elsa Ohlen,
CNBC,
9 June 2026
-
Berries are packed with antioxidants, fiber and vitamin C, so his healthy eating habits should put me, the proud grandmother, in a happy place, right?—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
And broadcast fees, which have long been a significant source of revenues for teams, will shrink as the league adjusts its framework for televising games to the streaming era, experts said.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
29 May 2026
-
Comparable sales, or comps, is a key metric for the retail industry that adjusts for new store openings and closings to ensure fair year-over-year comparisons.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
SpaceX plans to use the net proceeds from the IPO to fund the expansion of infrastructure for its AI and rocket businesses and to beef up the constellation of satellites that power Starlink Mobile, among other investments.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
-
Alnylam plans to use Inceptive’s generative AI models to aid its discovery of RNA interference therapeutics.—
Michelle Fox,
CNBC,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shapes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shapes. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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