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
This evergreen shrub is perfect for shearing and shaping into formal hedges.
—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
24 June 2026
Youngwood’s job is to make the financial case for that bet, determining how aggressively the company invests and shaping the investor narrative around the results.
—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
24 June 2026
The claim that creatine causes hair loss has lingered since 2009, shaping decisions for gym-goers and athletes weighing whether to add it to their routine.
—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
24 June 2026
Reese Witherspoon's involvement in the 'Legally Blonde' prequel The Hello Sunshine founder was hands-on with shaping the latest installment in Elle Woods' story.
—
Kimi Robinson,
USA Today,
24 June 2026
Notably, June has seen the Roland-Garros tennis tournament, the NBA Finals, the Monaco Grand Prix and the World Cup underway that are shaping the cultural conversation beyond the track, court or soccer field.
—
Kanika Talwar,
Footwear News,
24 June 2026
Divide the mixture into a dozen portions, shaping them into balls.
—
Tribune News Service,
Denver Post,
24 June 2026
As drone threats continue to evolve, defense programs such as Land 156 are expected to play a key role in shaping the next generation of battlefield surveillance and force protection technologies.
—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
18 June 2026
Members can explore new ideas from the neuroscientists, entrepreneurs, artists, philosophers, and other innovators shaping the future.
—
Big Think,
18 June 2026
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
24 June 2026
Youngwood’s job is to make the financial case for that bet, determining how aggressively the company invests and shaping the investor narrative around the results.
—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
24 June 2026
The claim that creatine causes hair loss has lingered since 2009, shaping decisions for gym-goers and athletes weighing whether to add it to their routine.
—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
24 June 2026
Reese Witherspoon's involvement in the 'Legally Blonde' prequel The Hello Sunshine founder was hands-on with shaping the latest installment in Elle Woods' story.
—
Kimi Robinson,
USA Today,
24 June 2026
Notably, June has seen the Roland-Garros tennis tournament, the NBA Finals, the Monaco Grand Prix and the World Cup underway that are shaping the cultural conversation beyond the track, court or soccer field.
—
Kanika Talwar,
Footwear News,
24 June 2026
Divide the mixture into a dozen portions, shaping them into balls.
—
Tribune News Service,
Denver Post,
24 June 2026
As drone threats continue to evolve, defense programs such as Land 156 are expected to play a key role in shaping the next generation of battlefield surveillance and force protection technologies.
—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
18 June 2026
Members can explore new ideas from the neuroscientists, entrepreneurs, artists, philosophers, and other innovators shaping the future.
—
Big Think,
18 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shaping
Verb
-
Discomfort often signals a gap worth adjusting.
-
Most riders understand why the trip costs more on a rainy Friday afternoon than on a quiet Sunday morning; adjusting prices for weather, traffic, or supply is a transparent way to balance a market.
Verb
-
Now, supporters are planning to speak out at an Alameda School Board meeting, hoping to reverse the decision or at least get answers.
-
Turkey is planning strict security measures for the summit, including banning demonstrations and restricting access to roads leading to airports, as well as sealing off areas around the summit venue and hotels hosting delegations.
Verb
-
An adult action series, the webtoon Passion and ADN are adapting has scored 80 million views worldwide, said Passion Paris MD Caroline Audebert.
-
More news came with the confirmation that Netflix is adapting Kasumi Yasuda’s manga Fool Night as a series, with Atsushi Yukawa directing and animation studios Sunrise and Shaft producing.
Verb
-
On the 10th anniversary of the Brexit referendum, Britain is preparing for its seventh prime minister in a decade.
-
Latvian intelligence is warning that Russia is preparing possible provocations against the Baltic states or Poland, including drones or any other hybrid attacks, in an effort to pressure NATO countries to stop supporting Ukraine.
Verb
-
The program includes Missoni and tailoring atelier Saman Amel trunk shows, and multi-brand personal shopping experiences.
-
Rather than creating separate products for different audiences, JioHotstar aims to identify common viewing behaviors while tailoring experiences where necessary.
Verb
-
This woman hired me two years ago to help guide her through the process of designing and building her dream retirement home.
-
The giant automotive manufacturer’s job will be designing, engineering and mass-producing the autonomous vehicles.
Verb
-
Less than five minutes after going up 1-0, Bosnia-Herzegovina now leads 2-0, putting it in great place to advance to the knockout stage.
-
Data center demand grows Artificial intelligence and cloud computing have intensified the search for reliable, around-the-clock power sources, putting advanced nuclear technologies in the spotlight.
Verb
-
Believe it or not, some people have made the mistake of throwing away old family photos for the sake of organizing only to wind up regretting it!
-
Players are responsible for organizing tables and groups; the Senior Center cannot arrange seating or table assignments.
Cite this Entry
“Shaping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shaping. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
