repair 1 of 2

Definition of repairnext
as in condition
a state of being or fitness the dining table is in good repair, so you won't need to refinish it

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

repair

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb repair contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of repair are mend, patch, and rebuild. While all these words mean "to put into good order something that is injured, damaged, or defective," repair applies to the fixing of more extensive damage or dilapidation.

repaired the back steps

When is mend a more appropriate choice than repair?

In some situations, the words mend and repair are roughly equivalent. However, mend implies making whole or sound something broken, torn, or injured.

mended the torn dress

When is it sensible to use patch instead of repair?

While the synonyms patch and repair are close in meaning, 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 repair?

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

a rebuilt automobile engine

How does the verb repair contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of repair are mend, patch, and rebuild. While all these words mean "to put into good order something that is injured, damaged, or defective," repair applies to the fixing of more extensive damage or dilapidation.

repaired the back steps

When is mend a more appropriate choice than repair?

In some situations, the words mend and repair are roughly equivalent. However, mend implies making whole or sound something broken, torn, or injured.

mended the torn dress

When is it sensible to use patch instead of repair?

While the synonyms patch and repair are close in meaning, 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 repair?

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

a rebuilt automobile engine

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 repair
Noun
Muscle repair, immune support and physical recovery all depend on it. Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 May 2026 No need to worry about repairs, staging, open houses and negotiating. Miami Herald, 1 May 2026
Verb
The half-billion-dollar bond, championed by Higgins, seeks to repair the city’s aging public safety infrastructure, plagued by issues like mold and leaky roofs. Tess Riski april 24, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026 Poor sleep makes wrinkles look deeper because the skin does not get adequate time to repair itself overnight. Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for repair
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repair
Noun
  • But through it all, Hall discovered football, and his condition wasn't going to keep him from the game that would define his life.
    Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Gold prices are driven by inflation expectations, central bank policy, global economic conditions and investor demand.
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • As the Moon moves through your 6th House of Daily Routine, small systems restore energy and reduce friction.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 27 Apr. 2026
  • But will the changes be enough to restore the competitive integrity of the game once and for all?
    Sam Amick, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The fast growth of legal sports betting has also ushered in a slew of prosecutions against insiders seeking to fix elements of games, such as score margins or results of individual plays.
    Chloe Atkins, NBC news, 28 Apr. 2026
  • The law will require grocery stores to keep prices fixed for at least one business day and would ban the use of surveillance data in pricing systems.
    JT Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Thousands of motorcyclists donning their most dapper attire will take to the streets around the world Sunday, May 17, to benefit men’s health issues — including here in Naperville.
    Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Cassidy, who cast a crucial vote for Kennedy to become health secretary, has opposed many of his vaccine policy changes, such as an update to the CDC website suggesting that there could be a link between vaccines and autism.
    Brennan Leach, NBC news, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • More recently, a growing domestic gas shortage — exacerbated by the halt in new drilling and worsened by the Iran war — has revived demand for Colombia’s own coal.
    Fabiano Maisonnave, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
  • While the attack on the press is underway, the authorities are also reviving old symbols of political repression.
    Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Then Toronto rebuilt a 12-point lead early in the third quarter.
    Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 1 May 2026
  • While that argument continues, the soccer coach and tax accountant are rebuilding their lives — while doing their best to stay vigilant with their addictions.
    Jay Cohen, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • While these tools remain limited, they have been explored deeply over the past few decades — not just for the sake of ultrafinitism, but because sorting out the shape of things is important for developing a finite physics.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 29 Apr. 2026
  • The Keys sink into tunes by RL Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, and Jessie Mae Hemphill, with second guitarist Kenny Brown and multi-instrumentalist Jimbo Mathus adding depth and shape.
    Jon Dolan, Rolling Stone, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • If portions of the page appear blank and an ad blocker is enabled, please disable the ad blocker and refresh the page to ensure full access to the content.
    Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
  • And the first refreshed Khy collection is almost a ‘greatest hits’ of Jenner’s renowned style.
    Lucy Maguire, Vogue, 27 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Repair.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repair. Accessed 3 May. 2026.

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