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
As naval forces continue to adopt autonomous systems, such advancements are likely to play a crucial role in shaping the future of underwater warfare and maritime security.
—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 26 Mar. 2026
From the moment pitchers and catchers reported to the team’s facilities in early February at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida, until the Braves closed up shop Tuesday, there was a fountain of talking points shaping the narrative of the 2026 club.
—Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Together, Feig’s keynote and Glaser’s recognition underscore the intersection of creative vision and legal excellence that defines the modern entertainment industry — making Power of Law one of the most essential gatherings for leaders shaping the business of entertainment today.
—William Earl, Variety, 25 Mar. 2026
Marianne Furevold-Boland has spent her career shaping some of Norway’s most influential television.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 25 Mar. 2026
The threat of a lockout will loom over the season, perhaps shaping how teams approach player moves at the deadline and the early part of the offseason.
—Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
In 2016, that idea — that there is some tacit mental taxonomy shaping our analysis of the world — became a little more concrete.
—Eric Boodman, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2026
The Force Awakens and Attack the Block star is joined by other close friends and family members who reveal the events that led to Taylor’s death and talk for the first time about the impact his tragic murder has had in shaping their lives.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 25 Mar. 2026
Scientists and researchers warn that climate change is shaping people’s daily life in increasingly extreme ways, from whiplash swings between very wet and very dry seasons to earlier springs, more frequent heat waves and shrinking snowpacks.
—Chaewon Chung, Sacbee.com, 18 Mar. 2026
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 26 Mar. 2026
From the moment pitchers and catchers reported to the team’s facilities in early February at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida, until the Braves closed up shop Tuesday, there was a fountain of talking points shaping the narrative of the 2026 club.
—Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Together, Feig’s keynote and Glaser’s recognition underscore the intersection of creative vision and legal excellence that defines the modern entertainment industry — making Power of Law one of the most essential gatherings for leaders shaping the business of entertainment today.
—William Earl, Variety, 25 Mar. 2026
Marianne Furevold-Boland has spent her career shaping some of Norway’s most influential television.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 25 Mar. 2026
The threat of a lockout will loom over the season, perhaps shaping how teams approach player moves at the deadline and the early part of the offseason.
—Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
In 2016, that idea — that there is some tacit mental taxonomy shaping our analysis of the world — became a little more concrete.
—Eric Boodman, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2026
The Force Awakens and Attack the Block star is joined by other close friends and family members who reveal the events that led to Taylor’s death and talk for the first time about the impact his tragic murder has had in shaping their lives.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 25 Mar. 2026
Scientists and researchers warn that climate change is shaping people’s daily life in increasingly extreme ways, from whiplash swings between very wet and very dry seasons to earlier springs, more frequent heat waves and shrinking snowpacks.
—Chaewon Chung, Sacbee.com, 18 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shaping
Verb
-
For outdoor enthusiasts, that has meant adjusting plans rather than staying inside.—
Spencer Wilson,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Cook, adjusting heat if needed and turning halfway through, until golden brown, about 4 minutes.—
Hana Asbrink,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Despite those risks, women riders in South Florida are becoming more visible on the motorcycle scene, planning their own meetups, safety briefings and events across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.—
Brenda Miranda,
Miami Herald,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Jefferies Financial Group — Shares of the investment bank rallied nearly 7% after The Financial Times, citing people familiar, reported that Japan’s second-largest lender, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, is planning a possible takeover of Jefferies.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Tubi is adapting a spooky teen classic.—
William Earl,
Variety,
24 Mar. 2026
-
As more people move to Woodstock, the city is adapting to the demands of a growing downtown.—
Emily McLeod,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The whole process took barely a minute, but the actors had likely spent weeks preparing for it.—
Taran Khan,
The Dial,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Start preparing your taxes with these options Offers in this section are from affiliate partners and selected based on a combination of engagement, product relevance, compensation, and consistent availability.—
Brian Sloan,Dan Avery,
CNBC,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Reverse recruiters work in a few different ways but generally offer job seekers help in identifying new jobs to apply for, tailoring their resume and cover letter for each new role, and submitting applications on their behalf.—
Jennifer Liu
Anuz Thapa,
CNBC,
23 Mar. 2026
-
In this way, adventurers could use the same burner while tailoring their cookware to the individual trip, loading up larger pots and pans for a group overland expedition or paring back to the lightest possible setup for a long-distance backpacking or ski touring adventure.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Kluge remained active into his 90s, writing books and designing art exhibitions.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Mar. 2026
-
In Los Angeles on Wednesday, a jury found both YouTube and Meta, which owns and operates platforms including Instagram and Facebook, liable for harms to children for designing their platforms to hook young users.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Republican leaders said Democrats are putting the country at risk.—
LISA MASCARO,
Arkansas Online,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The King and Queen were metaphorically putting an arm around them.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
He and Mason envision using the app in conjunction with a sports property, like organizing nationwide college tournaments for World Pong without the cost of dispatching operators to each location.—
Justin Birnbaum,
Sportico.com,
26 Mar. 2026
-
That’s a song about a heavy topic — organizing an intervention for one of your best friends.—
Mikael Wood,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shaping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shaping. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
