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as in to reform
to change one's behavior or character for the better the judge had heard the defendant promise before that he would amend

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb amend differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of amend are correct, emend, rectify, redress, reform, remedy, and revise. While all these words mean "to make right what is wrong," amend, reform, revise imply an improving by making corrective changes, amend usually suggesting slight changes.

amend a law

When is it sensible to use correct instead of amend?

The words correct and amend are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, correct implies taking action to remove errors, faults, deviations, defects.

correct your spelling

When can emend be used instead of amend?

In some situations, the words emend and amend are roughly equivalent. However, emend specifically implies correction of a text or manuscript.

emend a text

When could rectify be used to replace amend?

While in some cases nearly identical to amend, rectify implies a more essential changing to make something right, just, or properly controlled or directed.

rectify a misguided policy

Where would redress be a reasonable alternative to amend?

The meanings of redress and amend largely overlap; however, redress implies making compensation or reparation for an unfairness, injustice, or imbalance.

redress past social injustices

When might reform be a better fit than amend?

Although the words reform and amend have much in common, reform implies drastic change.

plans to reform the court system

In what contexts can remedy take the place of amend?

While the synonyms remedy and amend are close in meaning, remedy implies removing or making harmless a cause of trouble, harm, or evil.

set out to remedy the evils of the world

When would revise be a good substitute for amend?

The words revise and amend can be used in similar contexts, but revise suggests a careful examination of something and the making of necessary changes.

revise the schedule

Examples 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 amend Jackson has since amended her reports, the letter noted. Nate Raymond, USA TODAY, 4 Jan. 2025 The first paragraph of this article was amended to clarify the map refers to wind chill rather than temperatures. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025 The district entered the process to crosscheck books and materials based on the state legislature's changes to amend the Age-Appropriate Materials Act of 2022. Andy Humbles, The Tennessean, 30 Dec. 2024 The bald eagle is now officially the national bird of the U.S. after President Biden signed into law legislation amending a code to formally recognize the previously unofficial American emblem. Rebecca Falconer, Axios, 24 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for amend 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for amend
Verb
  • Collaborative solutions enable organizations to enhance resilience, improve efficiency and accelerate innovation in the face of uncertainty.
    Appio Fragoletti, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
  • The new deal comes with improve functionality for Stripe merchants, including the ability to A/B test Klarna and measure real-time conversion rates.
    Ryan Browne, CNBC, 14 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • This story has been corrected to show that Berkowitz works at Georgetown University, not George Washington University.
    CBS News, CBS News, 17 Jan. 2025
  • Keep an open mind when your partner, family members or friends point out differences in your parenting and be ready to correct it.
    Madeline Holcombe, CNN, 16 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Polis also acknowledged a coming legislative fight that his office is already embroiled in: Democratic lawmakers introduced a bill Wednesday to reform a provision of Colorado’s labor law that doesn’t exist in any other state, requiring a second union election related to dues.
    Nick Coltrain, The Denver Post, 9 Jan. 2025
  • Braun ran on a platform to reform the property tax system, Holdman said, and the legislature will work with Braun’s administrative team on the issue.
    Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Beckham has been a brand ambassador for Tudor since 2017 and has been seen wearing a wide range of Tudor models in various settings, using his style and status to enhance Tudor’s image and reach.
    Sophie Furley, Robb Report, 18 Jan. 2025
  • But one rationale for these scrambles is to enhance pedestrian safety by completely separating vehicles from pedestrians.
    Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The future of business agreements is being rewritten.
    Bernard Marr, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025
  • This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
    Alex Gangitano, The Hill, 17 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Those who turned inward eventually implode and behave in unthinkable ways.
    Tamara Conniff, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Jan. 2025
  • The differences don’t end there—the researchers also argue that Pluto and Charon are less likely to behave like fluid during a collision.
    Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The work is less a critique of AA’s methods than a wry commentary on art and art history’s inefficacy in remedying profound societal ills, especially those affecting Indigenous communities.
    Michaëla de Lacaze Mohrmann, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2025
  • To remedy this, the task force's report proposed a tracer study to help understand the movement of sand in erosional areas.
    George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 30 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near amend

Cite this Entry

“Amend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/amend. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on amend

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