as in weighing
to be of importance
she believes that doing well in school really does matter
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Recent Examples of mattering
Once wins and losses stop mattering, the attention turns to how those players are progressing.
—
Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Psychologists, sociologists, and philosophers vary in their definitions of mattering, but at its core, mattering is the feeling that we are valued and have value to add to the world.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
When age stopped mattering During the bourbon boom that accelerated after 2012, demand exploded faster than distilleries could age whiskey.
—Emily Price, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
But why should that start mattering now?
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025
But as kids move into adolescence and gain more independence, friends start mattering more, filling the space previously held by parents and teachers.
—Russell Shaw, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2025
That may be why the Media Matters fight, which seems like just another front with a tangential player in the FTC's bigger battle, may end up mattering the most.
—Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 22 Aug. 2025
Flett has come to understand mattering as a counterpoint to perfectionism, a more viable way to arrive at a sense of self-worth.
—Leslie Jamison, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Psychologists, sociologists, and philosophers vary in their definitions of mattering, but at its core, mattering is the feeling that we are valued and have value to add to the world.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
When age stopped mattering During the bourbon boom that accelerated after 2012, demand exploded faster than distilleries could age whiskey.
—Emily Price, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
But why should that start mattering now?
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025
But as kids move into adolescence and gain more independence, friends start mattering more, filling the space previously held by parents and teachers.
—Russell Shaw, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2025
That may be why the Media Matters fight, which seems like just another front with a tangential player in the FTC's bigger battle, may end up mattering the most.
—Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 22 Aug. 2025
Flett has come to understand mattering as a counterpoint to perfectionism, a more viable way to arrive at a sense of self-worth.
—Leslie Jamison, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mattering
Verb
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Lawmakers are now weighing how to balance climate goals with the need to maintain a stable and affordable fuel supply to power the present.—
Richard Ramos,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
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For CFOs weighing corporate footprint decisions, Griffin’s Miami playbook offers a compelling case study.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Higher diesel and jet fuel prices are impacting the cost of shipping, meaning everything from food and clothes to toys is subject to higher prices.—
Austin Carter,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
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The Dems won’t budge because Immigration and Customs Enforcement (meaning border enforcement) funding is included in DHS funding, and the Dems want to destroy ICE.—
Rob Crilly,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mattering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mattering. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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