as in to harden
to make stronger (as through hardship)
She was annealed by the tragedies of her childhood.
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Recent Examples of anneal
The system will form the backbone of a long-term partnership between FAU and D-Wave, which provides both annealing and gate-model quantum computing platforms.
—
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 28 Jan. 2026
The glass sheets spend 45 minutes in a machine called an annealing oven cooling to around 200 degrees.
—Christine Tannous, IndyStar, 13 Nov. 2025
Engineers sparingly tried annealing hardware space, so Juno's experience could be instructive for future missions.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025
Some annealing quantum-type computers are already commercialized.
—Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025
They’re served in a heap in a bowl, the logs of potato annealed, shiny and splotched with balsamic vinegar.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2025
Workable quantum solutions that make use of annealing systems are now in use.
—Chuck Brooks, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2025
After annealing, the links are strong covalent bonds [below].
—IEEE Spectrum, 11 Aug. 2024
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 28 Jan. 2026
The glass sheets spend 45 minutes in a machine called an annealing oven cooling to around 200 degrees.
—Christine Tannous, IndyStar, 13 Nov. 2025
Engineers sparingly tried annealing hardware space, so Juno's experience could be instructive for future missions.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025
Some annealing quantum-type computers are already commercialized.
—Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025
They’re served in a heap in a bowl, the logs of potato annealed, shiny and splotched with balsamic vinegar.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2025
Workable quantum solutions that make use of annealing systems are now in use.
—Chuck Brooks, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2025
After annealing, the links are strong covalent bonds [below].
—IEEE Spectrum, 11 Aug. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anneal
Verb
-
Physically frail, yet in full verbal command, Julian doesn’t talk to Lori so much as at her, pausing only to fire off questions that harden, in midair, into assumptions.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
As ideological blocs collapsed, political scientist Samuel Huntington’s influential 1996 book Clash of Civilizations articulated a growing anxiety that globalization would harden into cultural antagonism rather than consensus.—
Daniel Birnbaum,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Teamwork strengthens as the caring Moon and triumphant Jupiter team up to support your casual friendships and deeper connections.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The advisory will likely be extended through Friday afternoon and the winds will shift and strengthen.—
Chelsea Hylton,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Japan considers China its main regional security threat and has fortified the country's southwestern islands near the East China Sea in recent years.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The Jets were looking for a veteran to fortify their quarterback position and landed on Smith after the Raiders were set to release him.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Cheng was elected as party chairwoman late last year following a campaign that emphasized the need to temper the island’s provocations against the Communist regime.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Early reviews suggest fans may want to temper their expectations on the beer front.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Ezra's parents say that the moment is one that will be memorable for some time to come, further reinforcing his dreams of one day joining the law enforcement community.—
Lesley Marin,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Authorities reinforced security around Jewish sites in the wake of explosions last month outside synagogues in Liege, Belgium, and the Dutch port city of Rotterdam and outside a Jewish school in Amsterdam.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Anneal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anneal. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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