as in used
to put into action or service
huge dams harness the power of water to produce electricity
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Recent Examples of harnessed
Beyond creating the underlying models that generate code, AI is also being harnessed to create the interfaces that customers and developers outside the company use to write code.
—
Jared Perlo, NBC news, 5 Feb. 2026
Over the years, as the area developed, the mill harnessed the force of the river to run a corn and flour mill, and later a hydroelectric power station.
—Paula Allen, San Antonio Express-News, 31 Jan. 2026
For proof, look to the number of designers who harnessed a primary color palette –– yellow, blue, and red –– in recent collections.
—Shelby Ying Hyde, Refinery29, 29 Jan. 2026
Fashion has long harnessed the symbolism of the horse, a recurring motif for brands including Gucci, Loro Piana, Versace, Dior, Celine and Stella McCartney.
—Gemma A Williams, Vogue, 28 Jan. 2026
Quantum computing, once theoretical, is now being harnessed to tackle previously unsolvable problems in fluid dynamics, design of new molecules and materials, and energy optimization.
—CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
Drawing on decades of experience in nuclear physics and accelerator technology, the institute has now harnessed tandem accelerator techniques to achieve complete independent design capability.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 19 Jan. 2026
The team also found that the reconstructed ancestral enzymes were easier to produce in micro-organisms, such as yeast cells, than modern-day types, which mean they can be harnessed to synthesize cannabinoids more efficiently.
—New Atlas, 10 Jan. 2026
The mental capital, if harnessed successfully, will presumably enable a nation to achieve greater aims than a nation that has less mental capital.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 5 Jan. 2026
Jared Perlo, NBC news, 5 Feb. 2026
Over the years, as the area developed, the mill harnessed the force of the river to run a corn and flour mill, and later a hydroelectric power station.
—Paula Allen, San Antonio Express-News, 31 Jan. 2026
For proof, look to the number of designers who harnessed a primary color palette –– yellow, blue, and red –– in recent collections.
—Shelby Ying Hyde, Refinery29, 29 Jan. 2026
Fashion has long harnessed the symbolism of the horse, a recurring motif for brands including Gucci, Loro Piana, Versace, Dior, Celine and Stella McCartney.
—Gemma A Williams, Vogue, 28 Jan. 2026
Quantum computing, once theoretical, is now being harnessed to tackle previously unsolvable problems in fluid dynamics, design of new molecules and materials, and energy optimization.
—CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
Drawing on decades of experience in nuclear physics and accelerator technology, the institute has now harnessed tandem accelerator techniques to achieve complete independent design capability.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 19 Jan. 2026
The team also found that the reconstructed ancestral enzymes were easier to produce in micro-organisms, such as yeast cells, than modern-day types, which mean they can be harnessed to synthesize cannabinoids more efficiently.
—New Atlas, 10 Jan. 2026
The mental capital, if harnessed successfully, will presumably enable a nation to achieve greater aims than a nation that has less mental capital.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 5 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harnessed
Verb
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In 2004, when China used a similar amount of energy per person as India does now, coal was about ten times cheaper than solar.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
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Another internal document Lanier showed from YouTube suggested that the video streaming platform be used as a short-term digital babysitter while parents cook, clean or do laundry.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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This is a Federal Issue due to the amount of resources being utilized, including rivers and aquifers that span multiple states.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
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In the costuming department, the show utilized more than 1,000 yards of fabric and 1/2 mile of fringe with 90 types of fabrics represented.—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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No uniform criteria applied based on services or caseloads.—
Raynee Howell,
Oklahoma Watch,
9 Feb. 2026
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Each transaction carries a trace of the rules applied, which Mercans portrays as crucial for auditability and corporate governance in multinational environments.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The ring allegedly exploited a large-scale humanitarian effort used to ship aid and commercial goods into the shattered enclave.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
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Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet venture is increasingly being seen as critical infrastructure that can be targeted or exploited in geopolitical conflicts.—
J.D. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Rerouting the current $17,670 adoption tax credit to married parents for each of their own newborns, as long as one parent is employed.—
Kate Perez,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
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The owner of Joe Gibbs Racing — which has employed Hamlin as a driver for decades — has lost two sons in his lifetime.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Harnessed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harnessed. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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