1
as in adjusting
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in planning
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 shaping
The team said McDonald's will play an active role in shaping the fan experience at the new stadium, including the design of a McDonald's flagship restaurant and the involvement of the McDonald's brand in other fan experiences.
—
Adam Harrington, CBS News, 13 May 2026
The forces shaping our lives can often feel distant, abstract, and impossible to grasp — but through adventure, investigation, and deeply human storytelling, The Human Element inspires a sense of hope and connection.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 13 May 2026
Asked what matters most in shaping long-term leadership impact, Molinaroli resists simplification.
—Ascend Agency, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026
Every Tuesday, this new newsletter will deliver clear-eyed, authoritative intelligence on the deals, decisions, policies, and power shifts shaping one of the world’s most consequential regions, written for the people who need to act on it.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 13 May 2026
Since its founding in 1996, the CFDA Scholarship Fund has served as one of the industry’s most enduring commitments to supporting new voices shaping American fashion.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 13 May 2026
The Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden used its 50th anniversary year to dramatically expand its collection, announcing 312 new acquisitions in 2025 that reflect a broader push into photography, mixed-media work, and artists shaping contemporary American visual culture.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 13 May 2026
Golden State Warriors star Curry will make special appearances in select projects, while taking an active role in shaping the creative direction, talent relationships and cultural lens for the JV.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 13 May 2026
But long before television found him, Corso was shaping young men in locker rooms and meeting rooms and practice fields.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 May 2026
Adam Harrington, CBS News, 13 May 2026
The forces shaping our lives can often feel distant, abstract, and impossible to grasp — but through adventure, investigation, and deeply human storytelling, The Human Element inspires a sense of hope and connection.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 13 May 2026
Asked what matters most in shaping long-term leadership impact, Molinaroli resists simplification.
—Ascend Agency, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026
Every Tuesday, this new newsletter will deliver clear-eyed, authoritative intelligence on the deals, decisions, policies, and power shifts shaping one of the world’s most consequential regions, written for the people who need to act on it.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 13 May 2026
Since its founding in 1996, the CFDA Scholarship Fund has served as one of the industry’s most enduring commitments to supporting new voices shaping American fashion.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 13 May 2026
The Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden used its 50th anniversary year to dramatically expand its collection, announcing 312 new acquisitions in 2025 that reflect a broader push into photography, mixed-media work, and artists shaping contemporary American visual culture.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 13 May 2026
Golden State Warriors star Curry will make special appearances in select projects, while taking an active role in shaping the creative direction, talent relationships and cultural lens for the JV.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 13 May 2026
But long before television found him, Corso was shaping young men in locker rooms and meeting rooms and practice fields.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shaping
Verb
-
Minutes before the opening of his latest show, artist Gary Baseman, dressed as a retro diner cook, in a red-orange jumpsuit, white apron and hat, paced around Johnie’s Coffee Shop, moving art frames from one counter to another and adjusting the position of a cartoon cat plush toy.—
Iris Kwok
May 12,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
-
Squatting, her eyes adjusting to the dim light, hoping for groggy chickens, their eyes shut and their beaks tucked into the fluff on their necks.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
French authorities arrested a 27-year-old Tunisian man last Thursday for allegedly planning a terrorist attack at the Louvre in Paris.—
Maximilíano Durón,
ARTnews.com,
12 May 2026
-
Several news outlets reported that Makary resigned on Tuesday, which followed days of reporting that the White House was planning to fire him.—
Annika Kim Constantino,Angelica Peebles,
CNBC,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
After a couple of years, Shapiro-Barnum met with broadcasters and streamers about adapting the show.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
12 May 2026
-
EBay has also been trying to cut back while adapting to changes in the ways people shop.—
Queenie Wong,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Today, the two South Asian neighbors remain on high alert amid tit-for-tat threats and reports that both sides are preparing for more war.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
12 May 2026
-
Mentally preparing was the most important thing, to stay calm and focused.—
Sarah Blaskovich,
Houston Chronicle,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
Even in the United States, his student turned assistant Henry LeTang became the tap teacher to hundreds, from starlets needing tailoring to the great Gregory Hines.—
Brian Seibert,
New Yorker,
13 May 2026
-
Companies will test the boundaries Boyden speculated that offering different prices based on how much a customer uses a service, or advertising in particular ways to entice customers who are more likely to infringe, might constitute tailoring a service for piracy.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
In practice, though, designing a policy that acts wisely on this difference is all but impossible.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
10 May 2026
-
The interview was recorded before TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported in late April that Qualcomm and MediaTek are jointly designing a custom chip for an OpenAI smartphone, with Luxshare manufacturing it.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
Certain federal debts can result in a portion of your Social Security check being garnished, ultimately putting your financial stability at risk in retirement.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
13 May 2026
-
Louisa, all the producers and the writers are putting little inklings that are showing these sprinkles of just who John Tucker is that are going to snowball into things.—
Nicole Fell,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Through time-lapse analysis, researchers identified copper as the essential architect of the self-organizing process.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
7 May 2026
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Activists Maria Grazia Demontis [left] and Alberto Sala, photographed inside the archaeological monument Giants’ Tomb of Pascarédda, have worked to stop the construction of wind farms by organizing protests and taking legal actions through their organization Gallura Coordination.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shaping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shaping. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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