Definition of amendnext
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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

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 amend In March 2025, Shelton pleaded guilty after prosecutors amended the charges to one count of first-degree involuntary manslaughter. Kansas City Star, 25 Aug. 2026 In March, United Airlines amended its policies to require that all passengers wear headphones when listening to audio from a personal electronic device. Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 He was previously charged with one count of engaging in prostitution, which was amended to the disorderly conduct charge as part of a plea deal. David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 24 Aug. 2026 Court records show that York initially was charged with engaging in prostitution, but prosecutors amended that to disorderly conduct. ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for amend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for amend
Verb
  • Pawloski said Amazon seemed to invest fewer resources into improving MTurk at the same time as more data labeling services arrived, causing many turkers to shift to competing platforms.
    Annie Palmer, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026
  • This non-greasy, lightweight formula improves scalp health to promote healthy, thicker, and faster hair growth.
    Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 26 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Now, researchers have shown that an AI agent can learn to diagnose and correct some of these failures on its own.
    Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026
  • This story has been updated to correct one reference to Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
    Rodney Ho, AJC.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Child safety experts lauded the settlement and the accompanying pressure campaign as a giant leap forward in the effort to regulate an industry that until this year appeared all but impenetrable to reform, either from the courts or legislatures.
    Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
  • More recently, Republicans who spent years complaining about Obamacare have failed to abolish it, let alone reform its finances.
    Veronique De Rugy, Oc Register, 27 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Meta agreed to impose changes including a default two-hour daily time limit for teens across Facebook and Instagram, muted notifications during school hours, and enhanced parental controls, with more updates potentially on the horizon.
    Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Leaders must prioritize building cognitive and identity infrastructure, focusing on *how* people think and their self-authorship, ensuring AI enhances human judgment rather than standardizing it.
    Glenn Llopis, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • American business has quietly rewritten its deal with workers.
    Lori Janke, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Boorman and Rospo Pallenberg kept rewriting the script (because no one really knew what the movie was about), and Richard Burton was too dour and old and hungover.
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 23 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Search for jet quenching Previous experiments suggest that a millionth of a second after the Big Bang, even as temperatures remained extremely high, matter did not behave like gas but instead like liquid with very low viscosity.
    Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The denim industry does not necessarily need another product that behaves exactly like PP.
    Alice Tonello, Footwear News, 31 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • In 2022, residents raised nearly $100,000 to purchase a pump and cistern to remedy intermittent water service problems.
    Isabel Rosales, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The White House and Republicans also have few levers to pull to remedy affordability concerns immediately.
    Garrett Downs, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Amend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/amend. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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