as in to harden
to make stronger (as through hardship)
She was annealed by the tragedies of her childhood.
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Recent Examples of anneal
They’re served in a heap in a bowl, the logs of potato annealed, shiny and splotched with balsamic vinegar.
—
Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2025
Workable quantum solutions that make use of annealing systems are now in use.
—Chuck Brooks, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2025
These services provide access to advanced quantum computing technologies, including annealing quantum computers with over 5,000 qubits and quantum-classical hybrid solvers capable of tackling complex problems involving up to one million variables.
—Trefis Team, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
Quantum annealing: This term is borrowed from annealing, a process that uses heat to alter the physical or chemical properties of a metal, glass, or plastic film to increase ductility and reduce hardness.
—Ars Technica, 30 Oct. 2024
In this instance, after annealing, nanoplastic molecules are physically bound together with the molecules of tetracycline.
—Joe Salas, New Atlas, 3 Nov. 2024
Kaveh was certainly born a good person, but his overwhelming personal grace and the power of his art were annealed into their pure form by the white-hot fire of his addiction.
—Lauren Groff, TIME, 2 Oct. 2024
Bound wafers and chips are then heated slowly (a process called annealing) to form stronger chemical bonds.
—IEEE Spectrum, 4 June 2024
And researchers from Applied Materials presented progress on a method to radically reduce the time needed for annealing—from hours to just 5 minutes.
—IEEE Spectrum, 4 June 2024
Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2025
Workable quantum solutions that make use of annealing systems are now in use.
—Chuck Brooks, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2025
These services provide access to advanced quantum computing technologies, including annealing quantum computers with over 5,000 qubits and quantum-classical hybrid solvers capable of tackling complex problems involving up to one million variables.
—Trefis Team, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
Quantum annealing: This term is borrowed from annealing, a process that uses heat to alter the physical or chemical properties of a metal, glass, or plastic film to increase ductility and reduce hardness.
—Ars Technica, 30 Oct. 2024
In this instance, after annealing, nanoplastic molecules are physically bound together with the molecules of tetracycline.
—Joe Salas, New Atlas, 3 Nov. 2024
Kaveh was certainly born a good person, but his overwhelming personal grace and the power of his art were annealed into their pure form by the white-hot fire of his addiction.
—Lauren Groff, TIME, 2 Oct. 2024
Bound wafers and chips are then heated slowly (a process called annealing) to form stronger chemical bonds.
—IEEE Spectrum, 4 June 2024
And researchers from Applied Materials presented progress on a method to radically reduce the time needed for annealing—from hours to just 5 minutes.
—IEEE Spectrum, 4 June 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anneal
Verb
-
That those brilliant turquoise waves had flattened and hardened into muted whites and grays.—
Laura Poppick
July 22,
Literary Hub,
22 July 2025
-
Bottom line Gel polishes are painted on, similar to regular nail polish, and require UV or LED light to harden.—
Rebecca Dancer,
Allure,
18 July 2025
Verb
-
Accompanied by a business delegation, investment deals were inked, along with agreements to strengthen business ties.—
Mayu Saini,
Sourcing Journal,
14 July 2025
-
For example, strengthening your biceps can enhance your ability to perform a pull-up.—
Aubrey Bailey,
Verywell Health,
14 July 2025
Verb
-
Tensions over the exchange led to Cambodian, then later Thai, soldiers fortifying positions along the border.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
25 July 2025
-
Probiotic Juices Probiotic juices are fruit and vegetable juices that have been fortified with probiotics.—
Lana Barhum,
Verywell Health,
23 July 2025
Verb
-
Actions have been tempered and countermeasures have materialized.—
John S. Tobey,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
-
Trump has previously even quipped about how Franklin Graham, the president of Samaritan's Purse and a Trump ally, would ask him to temper his cursing.—
Lalee Ibssa,
ABC News,
14 July 2025
Verb
-
The current American administration, though, is the first to reinforce those ambitions, rather than curtail them.—
Yair Rosenberg,
The Atlantic,
24 July 2025
-
Sadly, these actions only reinforce speculation (or fact) about underlying motives.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
24 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Anneal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anneal. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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