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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of shaping
The guitarist who once played for Van Halen and is known for shaping a legendary rock sound is now rebuilding his life from the ground up.
—
Jasmine Viel, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
Because some of the slabs are so wavy, Blackman had to get creative when shaping the wood.
—Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
This year, the residency returns to Milan Design Week 2026 with a presentation of its second group of residents at the 2026 Alcova fair, with year-one participant Duyi Han shaping the exhibition design.
—Sarah Medford, Architectural Digest, 8 Apr. 2026
Their involvement will be instrumental in strengthening the project’s positioning in Europe and in shaping its broader co-production and circulation strategy.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 8 Apr. 2026
Even as the end of her reign approached, Queen Elizabeth was carefully shaping how she would be remembered.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2026
This panel brings together trailblazing creators, independent studios, and industry leaders to examine how indie TV is shaping today’s entertainment marketplace, from financing and production strategies to distribution, scale, and sustainability.
—Peter White, Deadline, 7 Apr. 2026
These are not real feelings, Anthropic’s researchers emphasized, but patterns in the model’s neural activations that guide its responses, shaping decisions, preferences, and outputs in ways loosely analogous to human emotions.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2026
Wellington was instrumental in shaping the modern NFL, championing new ideas.
—Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2026
Jasmine Viel, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
Because some of the slabs are so wavy, Blackman had to get creative when shaping the wood.
—Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
This year, the residency returns to Milan Design Week 2026 with a presentation of its second group of residents at the 2026 Alcova fair, with year-one participant Duyi Han shaping the exhibition design.
—Sarah Medford, Architectural Digest, 8 Apr. 2026
Their involvement will be instrumental in strengthening the project’s positioning in Europe and in shaping its broader co-production and circulation strategy.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 8 Apr. 2026
Even as the end of her reign approached, Queen Elizabeth was carefully shaping how she would be remembered.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2026
This panel brings together trailblazing creators, independent studios, and industry leaders to examine how indie TV is shaping today’s entertainment marketplace, from financing and production strategies to distribution, scale, and sustainability.
—Peter White, Deadline, 7 Apr. 2026
These are not real feelings, Anthropic’s researchers emphasized, but patterns in the model’s neural activations that guide its responses, shaping decisions, preferences, and outputs in ways loosely analogous to human emotions.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2026
Wellington was instrumental in shaping the modern NFL, championing new ideas.
—Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shaping
Verb
-
Perhaps pitchers and umpires are simply adjusting to the new technology, and by midsummer any early kinks will be forgotten.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Peanut cannot smell, but caregivers say that limitation does not appear to be stopping him from adjusting to his new surroundings.—
Cierra Morgan,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
One of the men accused of planning a mass shooting at a Pontiac, Michigan, high school graduation last June learned his fate in court on Tuesday.—
Alysia Burgio,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Lively seems to be planning a dragon attack, as referenced in her lengthy statement released after Baldoni's recent court win.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The film shifts the focus from traditional narratives of policy and victimhood to the everyday experiences of individuals adapting to a life of constant threat, raising critical questions about whether these safety rituals signify true preparedness or a surrender to violence.—
Brande Victorian,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Investments in modernized facilities, advanced textile research for uniforms, redesigned Navy hospitality and enhanced personal telecommunications reflect how our command is adapting to the Navy’s changing demands.—
Robert J Bianchi,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In 2023, the company was preparing to release its GPT-4 Turbo model.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
South Africa is preparing the most sweeping overhaul of its migration laws in three decades in a bid to attract skilled migrants as part of efforts to boost moribund growth in Africa’s biggest economy.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Kelce’s tailoring choices on the day Swift walks down the aisle will certainly make news, too.—
Rachel Tashjian,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Importantly, these moderating effects persisted even when bots were given information about users’ political leanings, suggesting the influence is not just a result of tailoring responses to users.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Eco effort Architects made sure to prioritize sustainability when designing this hotel, favoring energy-efficient technologies and geothermal energy wherever possible.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Career stuff aside, this aspect is also ideal for designing (or analyzing) a budget.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The first generation of parents to have resorted, at least occasionally, to mollifying their children by putting digital screens in their hands has now seen those kids grow up.—
Jeannie Suk Gersen,
New Yorker,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Wainwright alleges that the company started putting profits over people, which is when problems began to escalate.—
Terell Bailey,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Storms organizing to our west late Wednesday evening move into North Texas overnight.—
Michael Autovino,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Human beings have built homes in many different environments, settling the area and organizing it into units such as cities, states, regions, and countries, each with its own points of interest.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shaping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shaping. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
