1
as in health
a state of being or fitness
she was in good shape after having worked outdoors all summer long
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in form
the outward appearance of something as distinguished from its substance
that part of the state is known as the panhandle because of its shape
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to adapt
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to plan
to work out the details of (something) in advance
over the winter the committee shaped the company's new marketing strategy
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shape
Simone Jasper, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2025
In that game, the visitors’ 3-2-4-1 shape on the ball was able to cut through Liverpool’s block and Nicolas Jackson’s goal to equalise early in the second half was reflective of that approach.
—Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
My understanding of this was shaped by experiences in Iran’s underground cultural scene.
—Rebecca Ruth Gould, JSTOR Daily, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shape
Noun
The dog was found in rough shape but is recovering, rescuers said.
—Simone Jasper, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2025
In that game, the visitors’ 3-2-4-1 shape on the ball was able to cut through Liverpool’s block and Nicolas Jackson’s goal to equalise early in the second half was reflective of that approach.
—Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Verb
The press headlines reflect this divide and as Iranian and American negotiators prepare to meet, the tone of coverage could shape public opinion and signal how much political room Iran's government has to maneuver.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
My understanding of this was shaped by experiences in Iran’s underground cultural scene.
—Rebecca Ruth Gould, JSTOR Daily, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shape
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shape
Noun
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The funding losses, Shaffer said, challenge the department’s ability to protect vulnerable residents and respond to emerging health threats.—
Jonathan Shorman,
Kansas City Star,
5 Apr. 2025
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The report comes in the wake of massive cuts to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at the direction of Trump, his new health secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and his billionaire donor Elon Musk, according to several reports.—
Bruce Japsen,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Stage 4 is the most advanced form of melanoma, according to the American Cancer Society.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
10 Apr. 2025
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Each episode unfolds in flashback form, exploring what happened after the adoption.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Just as skipping leg day at the gym leads to an unbalanced physique, skipping structural deregulation while preserving agencies and programs that should be eliminated leaves the economy vulnerable to permanent federal steering.—
Clyde Wayne Crews Jr.,
Forbes.com,
2 Apr. 2025
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Michigan cornerback Will Johnson Johnson looks like Jalen Ramsey in appearance, physique, and style of play.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The Gilead follow-up series will adapt Margaret Atwood’s 2019 novel of the same name and see Ann Dowd returning as Aunt Lydia, with Handmaid’s Tale star Elisabeth Moss executive producing.—
Kirsten Chuba,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Apr. 2025
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Entrepreneurs who embrace curiosity, are willing to ask questions, to evolve, to adapt, to push boundaries, and to embrace new solutions, will be successful.—
Margot Machol Bisnow,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
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To add insult to injury, the NCAA does not plan on paying the full amount in cash.—
Caroline Price,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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The original start date was planned earlier, and the season would have been much easier to work in.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Some of your co-stars have described treacherous filming conditions in Thailand.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
8 Apr. 2025
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In addition to flagging dangerous conditions, the inspections ensure that tenants have hot and cold water, safe electrical outlets, and working heating and cooling systems, experts said.—
Soo Rin Kim,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Below, two especially careful 2025 Grand National Ladies Day amateur botanists demonstrate the extreme planar geometry of placing the straw in relation to the blooms.—
Guy Martin,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
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So, astronomers have come up with a compromise regarding the geometry of the sun's illumination angle on Venus' disk versus its distance from Earth to determine the time of Venus' greatest brilliancy.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Snow White, of course, earned far less than early projections in its opening weekend with a $42.2 million take from 4,200 North American theaters and tumbled 66% in its second frame with a $14.3 million tally.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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His massive frame was perfect for taking out smaller opponents, which is pretty much all of them.—
Jason D. Greenblatt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shape.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shape. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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