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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 This article was amended to accurately reflect Deutsche Bank’s current price target. Ganesh Rao, CNBC, 18 Dec. 2024 In a floor speech urging his colleagues to temporarily disregard the concerns, Mark Warner, chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, vowed to amend the law again before the end of year. Dell Cameron, WIRED, 18 Dec. 2024 On Monday, the House of Representatives passed a bill amending the U.S. Code to officially designate the bald eagle (aka Haliaeetus leucocephalus) as the country's national bird. Rachel Treisman, NPR, 18 Dec. 2024 Disrupting the flow of taxpayer dollars to the fund would require further amending the city charter. Julian Baron, Baltimore Sun, 20 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for amend 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for amend
Verb
  • Which reveals the third culprit that prevents people from unlocking powerful eye contact: not knowing how to improve it.
    Michael Chad Hoeppner, TIME, 27 Dec. 2024
  • Life advice Olivier Morin/AFP via Getty Images Fraudsters are improving their scams with the help of artificial intelligence.
    Brittney Melton, NPR, 27 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Correction: This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Benetton.
    Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 19 Dec. 2024
  • The vague text was introduced into the law by Congress in April, with Democrats in the Senate promising to correct the issue later this year.
    Dell Cameron, WIRED, 18 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Efforts to reform life inside the walls of the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla are making headway.
    Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2024
  • Legislation that would enlist the federal government in reforming the troubled-teen industry is heading to President Joe Biden’s desk.
    Tyler Kingkade, NBC News, 18 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • On the other hand, bright and vibrant colors work to enhance the natural undertones and can even have a brightening effect.
    Jessica Fields, Essence, 19 Dec. 2024
  • Historically reliant on Russian arms, with Russia accounting for 60 percent of its military imports in 2022, Vietnam is now seeking to diversify its suppliers and enhance domestic weapons production.
    Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium.
    Eric E. Harrison, arkansasonline.com, 18 Dec. 2024
  • This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
    Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 18 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • If Brisbane’s weather had behaved, that would be almost certainly six out of seven.
    Tim Ellis, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
  • Liam Payne's Death Authorities were first alerted at 5:04 p.m. on October 16 by a 911 call from the hotel's manager, who reported that a man was behaving aggressively and may have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
    George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 30 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Budget and staff cuts were not enough to remedy the situation, according to information on the private, Catholic university's website.
    Rachel Wegner, The Tennessean, 19 Dec. 2024
  • Ahead of the aerospace company are more ground tests and potential modifications to the vehicle to remedy its propulsion system woes and prepare it for routine spaceflight, NASA officials have said.
    Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 19 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near amend

Cite this Entry

“Amend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/amend. Accessed 4 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on amend

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