1
as in adjusting
to change (something) so as to make it suitable for a new use or situation
a dress shaped to the customer's particular figure
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in planning
to work out the details of (something) in advance
over the winter the committee shaped the company's new marketing strategy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shaping
The team said McDonald's will play an active role in shaping the fan experience at the new stadium, including the design of a McDonald's flagship restaurant and the involvement of the McDonald's brand in other fan experiences.
—
Adam Harrington, CBS News, 13 May 2026
The forces shaping our lives can often feel distant, abstract, and impossible to grasp — but through adventure, investigation, and deeply human storytelling, The Human Element inspires a sense of hope and connection.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 13 May 2026
Asked what matters most in shaping long-term leadership impact, Molinaroli resists simplification.
—Ascend Agency, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026
Every Tuesday, this new newsletter will deliver clear-eyed, authoritative intelligence on the deals, decisions, policies, and power shifts shaping one of the world’s most consequential regions, written for the people who need to act on it.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 13 May 2026
Since its founding in 1996, the CFDA Scholarship Fund has served as one of the industry’s most enduring commitments to supporting new voices shaping American fashion.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 13 May 2026
The Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden used its 50th anniversary year to dramatically expand its collection, announcing 312 new acquisitions in 2025 that reflect a broader push into photography, mixed-media work, and artists shaping contemporary American visual culture.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 13 May 2026
Golden State Warriors star Curry will make special appearances in select projects, while taking an active role in shaping the creative direction, talent relationships and cultural lens for the JV.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 13 May 2026
But long before television found him, Corso was shaping young men in locker rooms and meeting rooms and practice fields.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 May 2026
Adam Harrington, CBS News, 13 May 2026
The forces shaping our lives can often feel distant, abstract, and impossible to grasp — but through adventure, investigation, and deeply human storytelling, The Human Element inspires a sense of hope and connection.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 13 May 2026
Asked what matters most in shaping long-term leadership impact, Molinaroli resists simplification.
—Ascend Agency, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026
Every Tuesday, this new newsletter will deliver clear-eyed, authoritative intelligence on the deals, decisions, policies, and power shifts shaping one of the world’s most consequential regions, written for the people who need to act on it.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 13 May 2026
Since its founding in 1996, the CFDA Scholarship Fund has served as one of the industry’s most enduring commitments to supporting new voices shaping American fashion.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 13 May 2026
The Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden used its 50th anniversary year to dramatically expand its collection, announcing 312 new acquisitions in 2025 that reflect a broader push into photography, mixed-media work, and artists shaping contemporary American visual culture.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 13 May 2026
Golden State Warriors star Curry will make special appearances in select projects, while taking an active role in shaping the creative direction, talent relationships and cultural lens for the JV.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 13 May 2026
But long before television found him, Corso was shaping young men in locker rooms and meeting rooms and practice fields.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shaping
Verb
-
Google has been able to grow its search advertising revenue while adjusting the product into more of a chatbot experience, in a bid to compete with OpenAI and Anthropic PBC.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
19 May 2026
-
Hunting EVs metals To address the issue, the team designed an adaptive extraction plant capable of adjusting process parameters and chemical additives based on the composition of local thermal waters.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
Many four-year colleges have been planning for such a transition for years.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
19 May 2026
-
Too bad then that the man holding a debt over his head (Jonathan Coyne) is actually planning on offing him in his last match.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
As the federal government halts plans to address climate change, states, cities, regions, and even neighborhoods are trying to fill the gap by cutting climate pollution and adapting to extreme weather.—
David Condos,
NPR,
19 May 2026
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The project, called RoSA, short for Robot Scientific Assistant for Accelerating Experimental Workflows, aims to create robots capable of working alongside scientists in real laboratory environments while adapting to changing conditions and different types of experiments.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Beyond the longstanding economic embargo and an oil blockade that has pushed the island’s energy crisis to its limits, the United States is preparing an indictment against former President Raúl Castro, according to sources.—
Gonzalo Zegarra,
CNN Money,
18 May 2026
-
All rights reserved SpaceX is preparing for the next major test of its Starship launch system, with liftoff targeted for Tuesday evening from the company’s Starbase facility in South Texas.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Verb
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Joy and Jill are the fourth generation of a tailoring family that, up until five years ago, had only focused on menswear.—
Renan Botelho,
Footwear News,
19 May 2026
-
Even in the United States, his student turned assistant Henry LeTang became the tap teacher to hundreds, from starlets needing tailoring to the great Gregory Hines.—
Brian Seibert,
New Yorker,
13 May 2026
Verb
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The family cat has been missing for week, compounding the agony of losing her 7-year-old son Kakeru in a freak accident two years before, but Otone puts it to one side and continues with her latest project, designing a bespoke home for a fussy married couple.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
16 May 2026
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Momcozy has leaned into this shift by designing products that prioritize both function and form.—
Footwear News,
Footwear News,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Certain federal debts can result in a portion of your Social Security check being garnished, ultimately putting your financial stability at risk in retirement.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
13 May 2026
-
Louisa, all the producers and the writers are putting little inklings that are showing these sprinkles of just who John Tucker is that are going to snowball into things.—
Nicole Fell,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
Verb
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On top of that, the permanent staff organizing the fest and the Marché du Film is now over 50 percent female, including in leadership positions.—
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
-
High turnout, civic engagement, and community organizing still matter.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shaping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shaping. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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