exercise 1 of 2

noun

ˈek-sər-ˌsīz How to pronounce exercise (audio)
Definition of exercisenext
1
as in activity
energetic movement of the body for the sake of physical fitness the doctor ordered plenty of fresh air and exercise

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2
as in practice
something done over and over in order to develop skill a young piano student dutifully going through the standard finger exercises

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3
as in use
the act or practice of employing something for a particular purpose the observation that the best exercise for losing weight is the exercise of one's ability to say no to food

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

exercise

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to exert
to bring to bear especially forcefully or effectively a senator who consistently exercises his clout in Congress to get pork barrel projects for his state

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2
as in to practice
to do over and over so as to become skilled the only way to exercise your writing skills is to do more writing

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3
as in to use
to put into action or service commended the firefighters for exercising really good judgment in that emergency

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to bother
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy the slightest change in travel plans is enough to get him all exercised

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 exercise
Noun
Those exercises were to have involved US Marines stationed in the Japanese island of Okinawa, units of which were involved in the blockade of Iranian ports. — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026 Most of the letters in the Beinecke’s collection are replies to Cullen, and reading them without seeing the originating source letter was a beautiful exercise for my imagination. — Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2026
Verb
Someone exercising outdoors might prefer a tighter-fitting synthetic tank top, while someone sitting on a porch or doing light yard work might be more comfortable in a looser cotton T-shirt. — Aya Diab, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026 By using a stress ball or some therapy putty, people can exercise the muscles in their hand and fingers to gradually restore function. — Connie Etermadi, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for exercise
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exercise
  1. activity
  2. practice
  3. use
  4. exert
  5. apply
  6. bother
  7. exertion
  8. training
Noun
  • The crude market remains dominated by state producers, major energy companies, commodity merchants and large industrial consumers whose activity dwarfs that of individual traders.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
  • On the same morning, a short drive away, a therapist who asked to be identified as Bre was also patrolling, having woken up to an alert on her phone about ICE activity at her daughter’s former elementary school.
    — Emily Witt, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of activity
Noun
  • Though none of the players who were cut seriously threatened for spots, a few should return to the practice squad.
    — Andrew Destin, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Though interest in peptides is popular in certain wellness circles, including with podcasters like Joe Rogan, many of those who are seeking alternative medicine or who are going back to traditional cultural practices don’t fit the MAHA archetype.
    — Cara Kelly, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of practice
Noun
  • Davis shared her thoughts alongside a side-by-side comparison of the costume with 19th-century minstrel imagery, which perpetuated racist stereotypes about Black Americans and involved the use of blackface.
    — Daysia Tolentino, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Aug. 2026
  • But experts on the use of artificial intelligence in combat say that line already has been crossed.
    — Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of use
Verb
  • Heat cramps typically occur after exerting yourself in the heat and sweating a lot.
    — Dale Denwalt, Oklahoman, 29 Aug. 2026
  • According to the sheriff's office, Awais used his property-management companies and his relationships with association board members to exert control over the organizations' operations and finances.
    — Chelsea Jones, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of exert
Verb
  • The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat warning that applies to more than 1 million people in San Diego County, mostly across inland valleys, foothills and mountains where high temperatures will approach or exceed 95 to 114 degrees.
    — Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The study found the models understood concepts such as the Kelly criterion and Merton share in theory but struggled to apply appropriate risk management when making actual simulated trading decisions.
    — Joshua Hong, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of apply
Verb
  • Say what’s bothering you before resentment takes over the conversation.
    — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Rafter, bothered by a right shoulder injury, retires after Cedric Pioline breaks his serve in the opening game of the fifth set.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of bother
Noun
  • Cardio Load provides a rolling seven-day breakdown of your exertion, along with a target to hit for optimal training gains without overexertion.
    — Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Two firefighters were treated at the scene for injuries related to heat and exertion.
    — CBS News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of exertion
Noun
  • The company also sees a possible path for JR3 technology beyond training.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026
  • This is viewed as part of his decentralization agenda, aiming to transfer powers in areas such as skills training and select tax authorities from London to local combined authorities.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of training

Browse Nearby Words

exemption
exercise
exercised
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Cite this Entry

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

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More from Merriam-Webster on exercise

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about exercise

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