1
as in to attach
to cause (something) to hold to another
use this paper clip to fasten your picture to the application form
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to secure
to put securely in place or in a desired position
don't forget to fasten all the lines on your tent
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to focus
to fix (as one's attention) steadily toward a central objective
if you could fasten your attention on one task for more than a minute, you just might get something done
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fasten
Vanhée made clever use of zippers, which were fastened to the very top or undone just so.
—
Kevin Huynh, InStyle, 12 Mar. 2026
The ponytail began with a sleek foundation, with the lengths cinched at the crown of her head and fastened in a series of bubbles.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 5 Mar. 2026
There are some café racing elements in there too, like the pillion cover and the tubular license plate holder fastened to the swingarm's side.
—New Atlas, 4 Mar. 2026
The key rings were fastened with hard plastic locks.
—James Verini, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fasten
Kevin Huynh, InStyle, 12 Mar. 2026
The ponytail began with a sleek foundation, with the lengths cinched at the crown of her head and fastened in a series of bubbles.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 5 Mar. 2026
There are some café racing elements in there too, like the pillion cover and the tubular license plate holder fastened to the swingarm's side.
—New Atlas, 4 Mar. 2026
The key rings were fastened with hard plastic locks.
—James Verini, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fasten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fasten
Verb
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Using unique identifiers attached to each arrestee, The Post excluded a number of apparent duplicate arrests from its analysis.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
6 Apr. 2026
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Their experience is raw material, and, for crew members, the passion and memories attached to this raw material are intensified by relations of class and power.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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After striking out the New York Mets’ Mark Vientos to secure the Giants’ 7-2 win on Thursday evening, Tidwell and catcher Daniel Susac exchanged handshakes on the mound, as per the custom.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
3 Apr. 2026
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Officials discussed both diplomatic and economic measures their countries could implement now and after the fighting ceases to help secure the shipping route, according to NPR's Fatima Al-Kassab.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Rather, help these children focus on good nutrition every day.—
Dr. Sarah Kinsella,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
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Creative sessions focus on nature and fitness.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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There’s a known issue with a part of the Orion capsule’s heat shield, which is a part affixed to the spacecraft’s circular bottom that’s made of an ablative material — meaning it’s meant to char and erode as it’s exposed to heat.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
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There are bodies made from scrap metal, bodies pierced with tentacles and affixed with screens for nipples and eyes, bodies broken down for parts, and walls lined with images of skin.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Precedent for this idea comes from Poland, where many cities already use freshwater mussels as living sentinels of water quality, wired with sensors that register when the animals clamp their shells shut in response to pollutants.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
31 Mar. 2026
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The Nuggets clamped it down from there, turning two Portland misses and a Johnson theft into an 8-0 run and a 98-80 lead.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Why Hibernating Turtles Are More Like Sitting Ducks Every winter, most of the lake’s Northern map turtles concentrate in shallow-water clusters around one island in the middle of Opinicon Lake.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
30 Mar. 2026
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These nanoframes, which are nanoscale metal structures with hollow, frame-like geometries, are of significant interest because of their unique ability to concentrate and manipulate light at very small scales.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Before the game, the Wizards were tied with the Indiana Pacers for the worst team in the league, but by the end of the night the bottom spot was theirs alone.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
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Trailing by three after a disastrous first period, the Sharks got goals from Nick Leddy and Macklin Celebrini in the second period, and a nifty third-period goal from Alex Wennberg to tie the game and bring the capacity crowd at SAP Center to life.—
Curtis Pashelka,
Mercury News,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Standing knee-deep in the lo‘i, covered in mud, gently pressing roots into the earth, anchored me in a new way.—
Wassan Al-Khudhairi,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
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And Presidio, population 3,246, anchors the region to its historic Mexican, Spanish and Indigenous roots.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fasten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fasten. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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