as in to redesign
to adapt to modern needs, taste, or usage
the new owners of the old-line French restaurant plan to contemporize the menu and make the place seem less intimidating
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 contemporize
Bestselling classic Banana styles of the past are being reimagined and contemporized.
—
David Moin, Footwear News, 19 May 2026
The delight in contemporizing the antiquated past may feel akin to the Pope in cassocks and a White Sox baseball cap, or a good medieval meme.
—Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 3 Feb. 2026
Anderson has contemporized the timeline, situating us in our dismayingly recognizable era of fascist creep and following a sadly less recognizable underground effort to stop it.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2025
Three trans opera singers refine their unique vocal talents and contemporize the history of gender-fluid performances in the art form.
TO YOUR HANDS: DIR Ana Mouyis.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 7 May 2025
The struggling restaurant’s South Asian owner Ananya (Mahira Kakkar) clings to her and her late husband’s original dream for the place while her forward-thinking Thai-American cook, Jacob (Tommy Bo), urges her to contemporize the menu of traditional dishes and the House of India vibe.
—David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 May 2025
At the same time, the mill is celebrating denim’s heritage with a collaboration that contemporizes classic textiles.
—Sj Studio, Sourcing Journal, 14 Apr. 2025
Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla, the beloved designer duo synonymous with reviving and contemporizing embroidery techniques, will also mark their presence at the Vogue Wedding Atelier.
—Sonakshi Sharma, Vogue, 7 Apr. 2025
At the 151-room W Budapest, a Neo-Renaissance building from 1886 once home to the Hungarian State Ballet Academy, lavish details like tiles and arches were preserved, yet are contemporized with such elements as sleek bronze cladding.
—Alia Akkam, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Mar. 2024
David Moin, Footwear News, 19 May 2026
The delight in contemporizing the antiquated past may feel akin to the Pope in cassocks and a White Sox baseball cap, or a good medieval meme.
—Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 3 Feb. 2026
Anderson has contemporized the timeline, situating us in our dismayingly recognizable era of fascist creep and following a sadly less recognizable underground effort to stop it.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2025
Three trans opera singers refine their unique vocal talents and contemporize the history of gender-fluid performances in the art form.
TO YOUR HANDS: DIR Ana Mouyis.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 7 May 2025
The struggling restaurant’s South Asian owner Ananya (Mahira Kakkar) clings to her and her late husband’s original dream for the place while her forward-thinking Thai-American cook, Jacob (Tommy Bo), urges her to contemporize the menu of traditional dishes and the House of India vibe.
—David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 May 2025
At the same time, the mill is celebrating denim’s heritage with a collaboration that contemporizes classic textiles.
—Sj Studio, Sourcing Journal, 14 Apr. 2025
Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla, the beloved designer duo synonymous with reviving and contemporizing embroidery techniques, will also mark their presence at the Vogue Wedding Atelier.
—Sonakshi Sharma, Vogue, 7 Apr. 2025
At the 151-room W Budapest, a Neo-Renaissance building from 1886 once home to the Hungarian State Ballet Academy, lavish details like tiles and arches were preserved, yet are contemporized with such elements as sleek bronze cladding.
—Alia Akkam, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Mar. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contemporize
Verb
-
The park district also water playgrounds in McKinley, Austin-Lake and Avalon Park are being redesigned and rebuilt as part of an ongoing improvements project, and will be closed for the 2026 season.—
Sara Tenenbaum,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
-
Those plans suggest that the interchange should be removed or redesigned.—
Elliott Wenzler,
Denver Post,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
The system has been modernized.—
Chris Tye,
CBS News,
10 June 2026
-
Portugal is a good example—after the dictatorship ended in 1974, there was a push to modernize, and many traditional crafts weren’t passed down.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
The non-inclusion of the church among other Christian denominations created a backlash on social media and drew strong rebukes from Mormon members of Congress who urged the Pentagon to update the list.—
Luis Martinez,
ABC News,
8 June 2026
-
Special digital section is continually updated.—
Miami Herald Staff Report,
Miami Herald,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
This year’s inaugural USATF Tour aims to organize the fragmented sport by streamlining the calendar and working with existing event coordinators to provide resources, including prize money and travel for top athletes, marketing and drug testing.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2026
-
The Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority recently approved a new fare policy that would streamline payment methods and prices, and also start charging fares for the first time on the Gold Line streetcar.—
DJ Simmons,
Charlotte Observer,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
This deal has the potential to remake the region and lead to lasting peace.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
13 June 2026
-
Tech executives have told us that AI will remake our jobs, schools, relationships, and wars.—
Vilas Dhar,
Time,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contemporize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contemporize. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
