braces 1 of 2

noun

plural of brace
1
as in supports
a structure that holds up or serves as a foundation for something else wore a brace for the injured knee

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2
as in pairs
two things of the same or similar kind that match or are considered together bagged a brace of pheasants

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braces

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of brace
1
as in stimulates
to give life, vigor, or spirit to the pep talk braced the team up for the second half

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in carries
to hold up or serve as a foundation for several boards braced the wall

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3
as in fortifies
to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally she braced herself for the job interview

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 braces
Noun
The severity of their injuries is unclear, but neighbors said that the Boston Public School employees were wearing neck braces. — Riley Rourke, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026 After a long stretch of appointments, physical therapy, braces and uncertainty, Cassady was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis in April 2025. — Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 29 July 2026 The magnesium ions acted like microscopic braces inside the manganese oxide. — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 25 July 2026 Marino was 38, with bulky braces on his knees, his mobility shot. — Greg Cote july 21, Miami Herald, 21 July 2026 Jaden can walk short distances with his leg braces, but the room made even that difficult. — Jordi Lippe-McGraw, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 July 2026 Both players have notched two braces (two goals in a game) in the tournament, so a two-goal performance is not out of the question. — Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 16 July 2026 Healthcare providers may recommend a combination of over-the-counter medications like Advil (ibuprofen) or Aleve (naproxen), physical therapy, corticosteroid injections, and medical-grade braces or orthotics to treat the pain. — Sukhman Rekhi, Verywell Health, 10 July 2026 After opening with a scoreless draw against Cape Verde, the reigning European champions have scored eight goals in the past three games, with Mikel Oyarzabal notching a pair of braces. — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Verb
The first two months of summer in western Europe have been the hottest on record, the European Union’s climate monitor said Monday, as the continent grapples with devastating wildfires and braces for yet another heatwave. — Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026 Ukraine braces for winter Ukrainian drones hit a Wildberries warehouse in Russia’s Samara region — some 800 km from the front — while a strike on a residential building killed two in Engels, governors said. — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026 The escalating blazes come as France braces for its fourth major heat wave of the year Tuesday, with soaring temperatures and arid conditions increasing pressure on crews battling massive wildfires near Bordeaux, according to Reuters. — Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 28 July 2026 With a full beard, glittering earrings in both ears and braces on his teeth, Wallace is the man on campus. — Caleb Otte, Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2026 As baseball braces for a potentially lengthy lockout after the 2026 season, the Players’ Association has brandished the record-setting price as an example of how committed spending can drive franchise values. — Dennis Lin, New York Times, 22 July 2026 Arany also recommends wearable pads, wraps, or braces that fit around the knee to ensure the light reaches the affected area. — Sukhman Rekhi, Verywell Health, 10 July 2026 An extreme heat warning issued by the National Weather Service for the Pittsburgh area will enter a second day as the region braces for temperatures in the 90s and an impending heat wave. — Mike Darnay, CBS News, 1 July 2026 As New York City braces for a week of cruel summer temperatures that could push temperatures to 100 degrees, Mayor Zohran Mamdani isn't sweating reports that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce plan to marry at Madison Square Garden. — Bryan West, USA Today, 30 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for braces
  1. supports
  2. pairs
  3. stimulates
  4. carries
  5. fortifies
  6. reinforcements
  7. couples
  8. spikes
Noun
  • Reaching for chatbot interactions rather than human supports in moments of emotional distress or crisis.
    — Megan Kelly, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2026
  • These are upstream levers—exactly the kind of environmental and social supports that reduce the chronic disease load over time.
    — Tanya Akim, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of supports
Noun
  • The actor arrived in a regal sky blue high-neck top with a long cascading train and clashing red lining — custom designed by Prabal Gurung — offset with a casual pair of low slung, non-maternity jeans by La Ligne that skimmed just under her bump.
    — Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Compliant Technologies says the devices function as a normal pair of patrol gloves until officers press a switch to activate their electrical mode.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of pairs
Verb
  • Deadheading daisies helps maintain a tidy appearance, stimulates new growth, and encourages prolific blooms.
    — The Spruce, The Spruce, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Microneedling stimulates your own collagen with minimal downtime, while a series of light to medium chemical peels can brighten the complexion, improve texture and help fade residual summer discoloration.
    — Carlos Wolf, Miami Herald, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of stimulates
Verb
  • The Ravens also went with an all-rookie running back rotation, and the trio of fifth-round pick Adam Randall and undrafted rookies Elijah Tau-Tolliver and Dontae McMillan combined for 128 rushing yards on 31 carries.
    — Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The temple's dark roofs slope toward the misty Saitama hills, while the damp mountain air carries the scent of incense from this historic pilgrimage start.
    — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of carries
Verb
  • Inside, soy proteins repair and strengthen, copper peptides stimulate keratin production–aka the protein that fortifies and minimizes frizz–and pro-B vitamins amplify fullness.
    — Ellie Davis, Vogue, 25 June 2026
  • The Olive and June product can also be applied daily to bare nails as an intensive strengthening treatment that not only fortifies your claws, but also repairs ridges, discoloration, and pesky peeling along the way.
    — Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 3 June 2026
Definition of fortifies
Noun
  • Left-back could also do with reinforcements, with a thin pool of options available to cover for Luke Shaw, whose fitness record has been patchy during his 12-year career in Manchester.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
  • The Red Sox had one of their biggest trade deadlines in franchise history last Monday, bringing aboard loads of big league reinforcements led by three-time All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman.
    — Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of reinforcements
Noun
  • For manageable balances, couples may want to start by creating a repayment strategy that prioritizes high-rate debt or by exploring a debt consolidation loan that replaces multiple balances with one payment.
    — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • If an asset holder instead wants to flip an asset by holding it for less than a year, the logic is that the holder should pay the ordinary income tax rate, which is 37% for taxable income over $640,600 (or over $768,700 for married couples).
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of couples
Verb
  • Why short goodbyes work better than long ones Drop-off is where anxiety spikes the fastest.
    — Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 10 Aug. 2026
  • But with oil inventories dwindling to critically low levels, a looming supply crunch that spikes energy prices again could also test Trump’s patience.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of spikes

Browse Nearby Words

bracers
braces
bracing
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Cite this Entry

“Braces.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/braces. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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