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
Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 17 May 2026
The company still sells its classic animal crackers today, featuring shapes such as elephants, lions, camels, bears and tigers.
—Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 17 May 2026
Spanning 11 themes, the 110 pieces in the collection also include Colombian emeralds, cat’s-eye blue topaz, natural zircon, and Santa Maria–type aquamarines to bring color to both geometric and fluid shapes.
—Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 17 May 2026
Look for swinging sofas, egg chairs, or other fun shapes that bring character to the space.
—Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 17 May 2026
Jimmy Fairly’s exaggerated proportions and curved shield shapes feel perfectly aligned with that energy.
—Lauren Fisher, Footwear News, 16 May 2026
Her eye is always on the lookout for interesting shapes, fun furniture, or abstract art.
—Heather Bien, Southern Living, 15 May 2026
Scientists have developed living microrobot swarms made from algae and nanoparticles that can assemble into custom shapes under blue light and disperse on command with red light.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 15 May 2026
Among the more unusual succulents Kent has are crested plants — mutations of plants that give them unusual shapes and other characteristics.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2026
William Jones, USA Today, 18 May 2026
Servant‑leadership also shapes how strategies are developed.
—Hector Colon, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
This shooting in the Baladiyat district of Iraq likewise shapes the storytelling focus.
—Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 16 May 2026
Amadeus is a portrait of a man realizing his own inferiority and losing his religion as a result, and Bettany’s incredible rendition of Salieri shapes the series’ rumination on who yearns to command a stage and why.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 11 May 2026
More than any other figure, his influence shapes the military tempo and the scope of escalation.
—Hamidreza Azizi, Time, 9 May 2026
That idea, practice as the great equalizer, shapes how Plum sees her career now, in a moment that demands more from her than ever before.
—Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026
That consistency shapes how people weigh the cost of returning to school or shifting into something new.
—Felysha Walker
may 8, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 May 2026
As a main component of MSD, individual media dependency shapes the relevance of the medium and is constructed through the satisfaction of an individual’s needs after its use.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 May 2026
Noun
These tawny shapes look otherworldly, particularly when midday light beams shine through.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 17 May 2026
The company still sells its classic animal crackers today, featuring shapes such as elephants, lions, camels, bears and tigers.
—Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 17 May 2026
Spanning 11 themes, the 110 pieces in the collection also include Colombian emeralds, cat’s-eye blue topaz, natural zircon, and Santa Maria–type aquamarines to bring color to both geometric and fluid shapes.
—Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 17 May 2026
Look for swinging sofas, egg chairs, or other fun shapes that bring character to the space.
—Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 17 May 2026
Jimmy Fairly’s exaggerated proportions and curved shield shapes feel perfectly aligned with that energy.
—Lauren Fisher, Footwear News, 16 May 2026
Her eye is always on the lookout for interesting shapes, fun furniture, or abstract art.
—Heather Bien, Southern Living, 15 May 2026
Scientists have developed living microrobot swarms made from algae and nanoparticles that can assemble into custom shapes under blue light and disperse on command with red light.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 15 May 2026
Among the more unusual succulents Kent has are crested plants — mutations of plants that give them unusual shapes and other characteristics.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2026
Verb
Awarded two Michelin Keys, the hotel carries the legacy of true Tuscan artisanship, expressed through refined detailing, contemporary accents, and Riviera light that shapes the interiors.
—William Jones, USA Today, 18 May 2026
Servant‑leadership also shapes how strategies are developed.
—Hector Colon, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
This shooting in the Baladiyat district of Iraq likewise shapes the storytelling focus.
—Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 16 May 2026
Amadeus is a portrait of a man realizing his own inferiority and losing his religion as a result, and Bettany’s incredible rendition of Salieri shapes the series’ rumination on who yearns to command a stage and why.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 11 May 2026
More than any other figure, his influence shapes the military tempo and the scope of escalation.
—Hamidreza Azizi, Time, 9 May 2026
That idea, practice as the great equalizer, shapes how Plum sees her career now, in a moment that demands more from her than ever before.
—Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026
That consistency shapes how people weigh the cost of returning to school or shifting into something new.
—Felysha Walker
may 8, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 May 2026
As a main component of MSD, individual media dependency shapes the relevance of the medium and is constructed through the satisfaction of an individual’s needs after its use.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shapes
Noun
-
The last five millennia have typically seen a great diversity of co-existing political forms—sometimes overlapping and symbiotic, sometimes divided and incommensurable.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
-
About 15 minutes before game time in Tijuana, a line forms next to the Toros’ dugout, and Turner signs for fans in Dodgers caps and lucha libre masks.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 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
-
It must be embedded into how AI operates, with clear guardrails on how content adapts across languages and markets, and how decisions are controlled, monitored and traced.—
Georg Ell,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
-
Proprietary research informed its unique polymer formulation, which adapts to the wearer’s body for a secure and comfortable fit that minimizes leakage.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
But who conceptualizes and designs these games?—
Ben Rosenstock,
Time,
18 May 2026
-
The brand designs high-quality athleisure that’s a tiny bit more affordable than the other big-name brands.—
Jasmine Gomez,
Travel + Leisure,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Kofman’s article chronicles the path of such ideas from the fringes to the mainstream, outlining their influence on figures such as Peter Thiel, Stephen Miller, and Elon Musk.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
20 May 2026
-
State Department figures show 6,066 — or 99% — of the refugees were from South Africa, while the other three hailed from Afghanistan.—
Camilo Montoya-Galvez,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
Replacing one filter, using a HEPA purifier or changing a few cleaning habits can all help reduce indoor air pollutants over time.—
Ryan Brennan
May 19,
Miami Herald,
19 May 2026
-
The key is building sustainable habits that encourage curiosity while protecting mental clarity and creative energy.—
Rolling Stone Culture Council,
Rolling Stone,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
Those receptors constantly monitor changes in blood flow and send signals to the brain, which then adjusts heart rate and blood vessel tension.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
15 May 2026
-
California adjusts lottery prizes based on the number of tickets sold and number of winners.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Harbaugh plans to run a grueling training camp to try to better prepare the Giants for their early season games, but reversing a decade-plus of bad organizational habits and starts might take time.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
-
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Law Department plans to urge the City Council Finance Committee to advance the deal Monday for Arnold Day, who confessed to two separate 1991 slayings.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shapes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shapes. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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