exercises 1 of 2

plural of exercise
1
as in practices
something done over and over in order to develop skill a young piano student dutifully going through the standard finger exercises

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in uses
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

exercises

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of exercise
1
as in exerts
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 drills
to do over and over so as to become skilled the only way to exercise your writing skills is to do more writing

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
4

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 exercises
Noun
There are brisk 7am forest walks, group yoga, breath work, and a class on Lanserhof healing exercises, which combine stretching, tapping, and movement. Clare Coulson, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 July 2026 The carrier arrived in Hawaii on June 23, in advance of RIMPAC maritime exercises. Peter Suciu, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 Nervous system training is the practice of using biofeedback tools and short regulation exercises like breathwork to build stress resilience the same way weight training builds muscle. Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026 Approximately 2,900 soldiers from eight NATO member states are participating in these exercises, which will last several weeks. Sam Meredith, CNBC, 2 July 2026 The remains of two Army soldiers who went missing while off duty from military exercises in Morocco were recovered in May, according to the Army. Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026 In addition to strength conditioning, Barre3 includes aerobic exercises, also known as cardio. Hannah Harper, Health, 1 July 2026 The Calm app has guided meditations, breathing exercises, sleep stories, and music designed to reduce anxiety and quiet the nervous system. Katie Riley, Southern Living, 1 July 2026
Verb
Hezbollah maintains its own paramilitary force and exercises significant political influence, giving it authority that the Lebanese government has struggled to dismantle on its own. Vivian Salama, The Atlantic, 27 June 2026 In China, the central government exercises extensive oversight of universities and can steer academic priorities through national policy and funding decisions. Anna Esaki-Smith, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026 Public power, meaning the authority government exercises on behalf of the people, does not originate with the president. Stephanie A, The Conversation, 22 June 2026 Among Spendthrift’s many quality stallions, Into Mischief exercises a kind of casual dominance around the barn. Graham Cornwell, New York Times, 19 June 2026 Zellweger gained nearly 20 pounds to play the character, who drinks often and exercises intermittently. Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 13 June 2026 But Collins, who's been in the upper chamber since 1997 and exercises significant power as chair of the Appropriations Committee, has fended off a number of challenges from Democrats in previous cycles, including in 2020 when Joe Biden won the state. Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 9 June 2026 If LaVine exercises his $49 million player option for next season, the Kings are projected to have a team payroll of about $225 million, which would put them well over the NBA’s luxury tax threshold of $201 million and above the second apron of $222 million. Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 2 June 2026 The vessel is expected to participate in the upcoming Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) naval exercises off the coast of Hawaii later this year. Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 28 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exercises
Noun
  • Good Chop is dedicated to providing the finest cuts of meat while promoting sustainable practices.
    Rachel Cortez, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • But even after just a few summer league practices and one summer league game, Conwell has already noticed the difference at the NBA level.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 4 July 2026
Noun
  • The new measure applies only to those using the public drinking water system for certain uses, and wouldn’t apply to people using private wells, canal water or an irrigation provider, city spokesperson Abby Haydin said.
    Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 1 July 2026
  • Vintage wooden crates have practical uses beyond transporting food, games, and other picnic essentials.
    Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • Although the Florida Bar continues to make recommendations, the governor exerts significant influence over those recommendations.
    Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 June 2026
  • Viewed from a distance, the pressure AI exerts on human artists appears as part of an evolutionary process that far predates its own invention.
    Tim Brinkhof, Time, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • West Virginia’s ban also applies at every level of competition, but only from middle school through college.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • The same process applies for minors if all living parents agree to the name change.
    Angela Rodriguez, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • He becomes increasingly consumed by the otherworldly dimension, which alarms his therapist, Mary (Renate Reinsve).
    Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 30 May 2026
  • The focal point of escalating concern is oldest son Jeremy (Edik Beddoes) whose increasingly erratic behavior alarms those around him, not only for his safety but others as well.
    Randy Myers, Mercury News, 7 May 2026
Noun
  • Though parents would have the option to opt their children out of some of the required teachings, Clark said, missing lessons could impact students’ test scores.
    Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 26 June 2026
  • Below, members of Forbes Technology Council share lessons larger engineering organizations can take from small development teams and why doing so can make a meaningful positive difference.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
Noun
  • Banks discovered that lounge access drove credit card applications.
    Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • The open-ear design also allows wearers to remain aware of their surroundings, offering potential benefits for both immersive entertainment and real-world safety applications.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • The underlying design utilizes a High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor framework that Valar Atomics refers to as its Numenor architecture.
    Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 2 July 2026
  • His company has developed a noninvasive technology system, called Edison, which utilizes histotripsy—sound waves that destroy tumors from the inside—to treat cancer and other conditions.
    Amy Feldman, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Exercises.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exercises. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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