MEND Synonyms: 156 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'mend' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of mend are patch , rebuild , and repair . While all these words mean "to put into good order something that is injured, damaged, or defective," mend implies making whole or sound something broken, torn, or injured. // mended the torn dress

Q: When is 'patch' a more appropriate choice than 'mend'?

Although the words patch and mend have much in common, patch implies an often temporary fixing of a hole or break with new material. // patch worn jeans

Q: Where would 'rebuild' be a reasonable alternative to 'mend'?

The words rebuild and mend are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, rebuild suggests making like new without completely replacing. // a rebuilt automobile engine

Q: When can 'repair' be used instead of 'mend'?

The words repair and mend can be used in similar contexts, but repair applies to the fixing of more extensive damage or dilapidation. // repaired the back steps

mend

verb

ˈmend

Definition of mend

as in to repair

to put into good shape or working order again that shirt will be as good as new when I'm finished mending it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to recover

to become healthy and strong again after illness or weakness she's mending after a particularly nasty bout of the flu

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to heal

to restore to a healthy condition mended the broken plant so that it was soon thriving again

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to compensate

to make up for (an offense) the proverb "least said, soonest mended" should be heeded by anyone tempted to angrily blurt out things they really don't mean

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to improve

to change one's behavior or character for the better everyone's written her off as a liar and a thief, but I say it's never too late to mend

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to cure

to bring about recovery from the old adage that only time can mend a broken heart

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb mend contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of mend are patch, rebuild, and repair. While all these words mean "to put into good order something that is injured, damaged, or defective," mend implies making whole or sound something broken, torn, or injured.

mended the torn dress

When is patch a more appropriate choice than mend?

Although the words patch and mend have much in common, patch implies an often temporary fixing of a hole or break with new material.

patch worn jeans

Where would rebuild be a reasonable alternative to mend?

The words rebuild and mend are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, rebuild suggests making like new without completely replacing.

a rebuilt automobile engine

When can repair be used instead of mend?

The words repair and mend can be used in similar contexts, but repair applies to the fixing of more extensive damage or dilapidation.

repaired the back steps

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 mend This is a small but sound starting point toward trying to mend some of humanity’s challenges. — Steven D. Reske, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026 The moves come as Jackson seeks to mend a rift with Jones and unite Republicans amid a close race for governor against Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms. — Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 22 Sep. 2026 What is known is that the stitches that bound the pages came loose at some point and that the pages were left out when the book was mended. — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 16 Sep. 2026 Over the years, the exes eventually mended their relationship, which viewers saw unfold on The Flip Off, and Heather and Haack started to become close friends soon after. — Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mend

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mend

Verb

Voters approved $250 million in bonds in 2018 to help build and repair affordable housing, followed by another $350 million in 2022.

— Bilin Lin, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2026
The state is pre-positioning more than 4 million sandbags, more than 50,000 feet of portable flood barriers and 400,000 tons of rock to repair levees.

— Adrian Florido, NPR, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of repair

Verb

The spa Outdoor adventure is the primary focus here, so after skiing or mountain biking all day the spa is the ideal place to recover.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
The bank sees high diesel prices as necessary to prevent recovering demand from overwhelming constrained refineries.

— Matthew Tan, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of recover

Verb

Her path crosses with that of Inocência, an enslaved Black woman who possesses healing knowledge, knows the land, and devises her own strategies of resistance.

— Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
If Moton is ready to play and Freeling indeed heals from his knee injury, the Panthers now have a decision to make as to who will start.

— Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of heal

Verb

Employees Are Still The Source Of Context My years in automation also taught me that employees compensate for technology long before technology compensates for them.

— Doug Shannon, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026
And keyboard manufacturers occasionally implement longer-than-necessary debounce times to compensate for switch degradation over time.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of compensate

Verb

Neutrinos bump into other particles only rarely, so scientists build large detectors to improve their odds of catching collisions.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2026
But experts are not optimistic that the additional supply will improve refined product availability and temper prices in the long run.

— Matthew Tan, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of improve

Verb

By the end of 2028, crews will have replaced 15 pedestrian and vehicle bridges and rehabilitate seven more.

— Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 6 Oct. 2026
Along Central Avenue, the nonprofit New Life Homes rehabilitated Luna Lodge into 30 affordable apartments in 2013 and reopened the Sundowner as 71 mixed-income apartments the following year.

— Harry Bruinius, Christian Science Monitor, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of rehabilitate

Cite this Entry

Style

“Mend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mend. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of mend

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

deportment

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes