repair 1 of 2

noun

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

ri-ˈper How to pronounce repair (audio)
1
as in to restore
to bring back to a former condition or vigor it will take some time to repair your energy after a bout with the flu

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to fix
to put into good shape or working order again having trouble finding someone who repairs audio components

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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
There are still about 20 shops that offer shoe repair services in the metro. — Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2026 The report also tracks nine brand repair programs that were created or expanded in the first half of 2026. — Cleo Levin, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026
Verb
Broken and forlorn, she’s once again isolated…till Wicker Husband reappears—repaired and forgiving. — Valerie Monroe, Allure, 23 Oct. 2026 The new series picks up four years later, as Assane is released and pledges to go straight and repair his relationship with his family, only for a copycat thief to once more drag him to the criminal side. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for repair
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repair
  1. condition
  2. restore
  3. fix
  4. health
  5. revive
  6. rebuild
  7. shape
  8. refresh
Noun
  • The company aims to develop a wider lineup of electric-propulsion ships suited to different operating conditions and customer requirements.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
  • That website works great in the demo—under specific conditions and without users with thumbs for fingers.
    — Brian Jenney, IEEE Spectrum, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of condition
Verb
  • Jennifer Shuford, who had been Texas’s health commissioner, was part of a team hired to restore confidence in the agency.
    — Dan Diamond, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Officials said the speed caps were lifted on Saturday, and the service was restored.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of restore
Verb
  • And while Buffalo and Jacksonville can use the break to rest and recharge, fans in Washington and Los Angeles are hoping a week away might somehow fix what’s gone wrong.
    — Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Tyler is still on the hook to help fix outstanding problems at the treasurer’s office involving property tax revenue payouts and distribution reports to local governments across the county, and pay out refunds to taxpayers.
    — A.D. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of fix
Noun
  • The health benefits it is meant to finance aren’t one-time expenses, after all.
    — Ramesh Ponnuru, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Those effects compound quickly in health systems already under strain.
    — Ruby Wang, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of health
Verb
  • Krusty’s attempt to revive his declining show during a Halloween special goes horribly wrong when the Devil arrives to collect on Bart’s deal to eliminate the competition.
    — Joshua Kurp, Vulture, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The sighting of the faceless ghost revived the history of the unsolved murder all over again.
    — Marcus Librizzi, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of revive
Verb
  • Crews excavated an 8-acre basin in the infield to serve as a holding pond, while contractors rebuilt the culverts under the track and reinforced the road leading into it.
    — Abe Streep, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026
  • His appointment comes as Iran works to rebuild its military facilities and replenish weapons lost during the war.
    — Khaled Wassef, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of rebuild
Noun
  • David Chokachi is in the best shape of his life thanks, in part, to an unconventional routine.
    — Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Nordic Knots’s rug is one way to add a slight edge to your floors, as its sharp geometry on soft wool juxtaposes the severity of the shapes.
    — Alex Eagle, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of shape
Verb
  • Under the pioneering spirit of art director Luca Nichetto, a global roster of names are refreshing this ages-old company’s profile, among them Swedish design studio Claesson Koivisto Rune.
    — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Days ago, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists refreshed its recommendations on menopause treatment options.
    — Lyndon Haviland, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of refresh

Browse Nearby Words

repaid
repair
repairable
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Cite this Entry

“Repair.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repair. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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