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
Deputy Food Editor, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2026
Today’s new wave of halter tops feels grown-up and refined, reimagined in sleek, streamlined shapes that have become fixtures everywhere from the runway to the red carpet — and across the vacation wardrobes defining Euro-summer style.
—Lauren Fisher, Footwear News, 30 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
Rick is tightly scheduled, punctilious to a fault, endowed with verbal wit that gently but firmly shapes and smooths social interactions.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 29 May 2026
The shapes vary just as widely, from strapless maxis to spaghetti-strap minis and short-sleeve midis.
—Irina Grechko, Vogue, 29 May 2026
That means understanding space, motion, force, friction, weird shapes and materials, awkward lighting, and everything else that humans — and other organics — tend to grasp instinctively.
—Robert Hart, The Verge, 29 May 2026
Called Al Dente, the tiles took inspiration from pasta shapes in sauce.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 29 May 2026
This bag has an enormous main compartment that can hold bulky clothing items, a laptop compartment that keeps electronics tidy and folds down flat for easy packing, and multiple front-access pockets packed with slots of all shapes and sizes.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 24 May 2026
Vanessa Grubbs, STAT, 1 June 2026
Over time, that shapes who advances, who stays and who falls off the path.
—Subha Barry, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
That structural choice shapes the entire experience.
—Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 June 2026
The finding could help scientists better understand how space weather shapes worlds without protective magnetic shields, including planets such as Venus and Saturn's largest moon Titan, the researchers say.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 26 May 2026
This shooting in the Baladiyat district of Iraq likewise shapes the storytelling focus.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 25 May 2026
Taiwan scenario shapes strategic interest Military analysts believe the aircraft might be linked to Beijing’s plans for Taiwan and the South China Sea.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 25 May 2026
The Difference Matters Not all pickles are fermented, and the distinction shapes whether the cucumber in your sandwich is doing anything for your gut.
—Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 23 May 2026
About one in four fans say neither drivers nor media shapes their view at all.
—Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 22 May 2026
Noun
Perry loves short, tubular shapes for catching all those flavorful bread crumbs and cheese.
—Deputy Food Editor, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2026
Today’s new wave of halter tops feels grown-up and refined, reimagined in sleek, streamlined shapes that have become fixtures everywhere from the runway to the red carpet — and across the vacation wardrobes defining Euro-summer style.
—Lauren Fisher, Footwear News, 30 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
Rick is tightly scheduled, punctilious to a fault, endowed with verbal wit that gently but firmly shapes and smooths social interactions.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 29 May 2026
The shapes vary just as widely, from strapless maxis to spaghetti-strap minis and short-sleeve midis.
—Irina Grechko, Vogue, 29 May 2026
That means understanding space, motion, force, friction, weird shapes and materials, awkward lighting, and everything else that humans — and other organics — tend to grasp instinctively.
—Robert Hart, The Verge, 29 May 2026
Called Al Dente, the tiles took inspiration from pasta shapes in sauce.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 29 May 2026
This bag has an enormous main compartment that can hold bulky clothing items, a laptop compartment that keeps electronics tidy and folds down flat for easy packing, and multiple front-access pockets packed with slots of all shapes and sizes.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 24 May 2026
Verb
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
Over time, that shapes who advances, who stays and who falls off the path.
—Subha Barry, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
That structural choice shapes the entire experience.
—Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 June 2026
The finding could help scientists better understand how space weather shapes worlds without protective magnetic shields, including planets such as Venus and Saturn's largest moon Titan, the researchers say.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 26 May 2026
This shooting in the Baladiyat district of Iraq likewise shapes the storytelling focus.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 25 May 2026
Taiwan scenario shapes strategic interest Military analysts believe the aircraft might be linked to Beijing’s plans for Taiwan and the South China Sea.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 25 May 2026
The Difference Matters Not all pickles are fermented, and the distinction shapes whether the cucumber in your sandwich is doing anything for your gut.
—Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 23 May 2026
About one in four fans say neither drivers nor media shapes their view at all.
—Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 22 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shapes
Noun
-
Both photographers transform trees into arboreal personae through intent perusal and framing, deploy cars less as signifiers than as compositional forms, and relish discovering architectural oddities.—
James Quandt,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
-
Carney said his government has introduced legislation over the last year to combat antisemitism and other forms of hatred.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
2 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
-
Being 5 feet tall in a world that designs everything from sun dresses to drivers’ seats for people with 32-inch inseams is not easy.—
Donna Vickroy,
Chicago Tribune,
29 May 2026
-
That intelligence helps to inform the models that Brick Shop designs into kits.—
Scotty Reiss,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
His broad network of advisers includes many prominent figures, including former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, investor Stanley Druckenmiller, and Chevron CEO Mike Wirth, all of whom appeared at his swearing-in last month at the White House.—
Matt Peterson,
CNBC,
3 June 2026
-
Altogether, Russia fired 656 drones and 73 missiles at Ukraine overnight, according to Ukrainian Air Force figures, which said the vast bulk of the drones and just over half of the missiles were shot down.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
What cooking habits create the biggest risk?—
Ryan Brennan
June 2,
Sacbee.com,
3 June 2026
-
Doors are opened for you, preferences and habits are remembered, and concierge requests are handled with quiet confidence.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 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 5 Jun. 2026.
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