exercise 1 of 2

1
2
as in practice
something done over and over in order to develop skill a young piano student dutifully going through the standard finger exercises

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3
as in use
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

exercise

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to exert
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 to practice
to do over and over so as to become skilled the only way to exercise your writing skills is to do more writing

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3
as in to use
to put into action or service commended the firefighters for exercising really good judgment in that emergency

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 exercise
Noun
Staff carried out a series of different exercises with him and started to see progress. Jay Harris, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025 An exercise in absurdity Indirect costs for studying the biology of memory ate up 46% of a University of Florida grant, while the UCF project exploring neuromuscular keys to early Alzheimer’s detection carried indirect costs of about 35%. Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Boards, Orlando Sentinel, 20 Feb. 2025
Verb
Motorists should exercise caution while driving, especially on bridges and overpasses. Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2025 On Monday, the Royals exercised his 2026 option, keeping him around for another season past this year. Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for exercise
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exercise
Noun
  • Lakeside Circle signed a letter of intent with a potential tenant, which operated a go-kart and mini-bike facility, which also offered axe-throwing, virtual reality games and other activities.
    Justin Gest, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025
  • The museum has plenty of activities for kids, including a dedicated play space for toddlers and another for children up to age 7.
    Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Natural wine usually comes from small-scale producers who prioritize biodynamic farming practices and eschew monoculture to create a product that highlights the nuances of terroir.
    Teddy Minford, Vogue, 18 Feb. 2025
  • But the practice of killing off affected birds is one that predates Biden, took place during Trump's first term as well, and has helped prevent the outbreak from spreading even further.
    Kaleigh Rogers, ABC News, 18 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Park District officials want to make changes on the pool that originally went into use about ten years ago.
    Daniel I. Dorfman, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2025
  • Make use of the giant black box on the wall—your TV.
    Kendra Vaculin, Bon Appétit, 11 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • But in Schmitt’s hands, what could have been a straightforward takedown of conservative philanthropic activism is instead a personal meditation on control and the ways that institutions and systems exert control over our beliefs, lives and bodies.
    Shannon L. Bowen, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Feb. 2025
  • Post-wildfire landslides can exert great loads on objects in their paths, strip vegetation, block drainage ways, damage structures and endanger human life, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
    Max Golembo, ABC News, 12 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Burkhardt explained the companies will assess the reception of Canada Goose’s debut eyewear collection and take those learnings to apply to future launches.
    Layla Ilchi, WWD, 19 Feb. 2025
  • This approach can be applied to a team, a division, or even an entire organization.
    Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • He is also bothered that the revenue is going to transit and the toll is not geared solely to curbing traffic.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 20 Feb. 2025
  • Many users never bother to switch to paying in the local currency, even if doing so could save them money.
    Shahar Ziv, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • As the disease worsens, cardinal symptoms include cough with or without phlegm and breathlessness, especially with exertion.
    Soma Mandal, Verywell Health, 4 Feb. 2025
  • Some levels of pain or discomfort, such as those created by the exertion of hard physical exercise, can have positive associations.
    Conor Purcell, Scientific American, 17 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The Nashville staff hosted 13 juniors and seniors from universities throughout the state on Jan. 9-11 for training in beat coverage, reporting techniques, visual journalism and digital production.
    Cassandra Stephenson, The Tennessean, 12 Feb. 2025
  • Camron Browning, a physician in his third year of residency training, grew up in the small town of Havana, Florida, and wants to practice medicine there.
    Daniel Chang, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Exercise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exercise. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.

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