harness

verb

Definition of harnessnext
as in to use
to put into action or service huge dams harness the power of water to produce electricity

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 harness Vibe coding became real with Lovable, lawyers harnessed Harvey, doctors slashed admin with the likes of Abridge and even the common office worker became far smarter with note taking assistants like Granola. — Sanjot Malhi, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2026 Mourinho wants to make the most of his vision and long passes, harnessing the pace and attacking ability of Vinicius Jr, Mbappe and Yan Diomande, the 19-year-old winger who has joined from RB Leipzig in a deal worth up to €140million (£119m; $161m). — Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026 But the strategy Disney laid out shows that a major part of the company’s plans in the ever-important fight for consumers’ attention involves harnessing its loyal fans. — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026 If successful, the project could help researchers make more precise measurements and open ways to explore the fundamental nature of the universe by harnessing the quantum properties of tiny defects in diamonds. — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for harness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harness
  1. use
  2. utilize
  3. exploit
  4. apply
  5. employ
Verb
  • Operators can also continue using diesel when hydrogen supplies are unavailable.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Razorbill brings that experience to one of the industry's most recognizable blade profiles, using extensive CNC machining to make geometry itself part of both the product's performance and its appearance.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of use
Verb
  • This looks like their feedback actually being utilized, their offers getting more personalized and their rewards becoming more tailored.
    — Zsuzsa Kecsmar, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Columbia Sportswear utilizes proprietary Omni-Freez Zero technology, which uses special polymer rings embedded in the fabric that react with sweat to pull heat away from the body.
    — David Moin, Footwear News, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of utilize
Verb
  • Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have uncovered a new processor attack that can bypass defenses in Intel and AMD chips by exploiting a security gap lasting only a handful of instructions.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Other Surrealists, meanwhile, seemed to take from animals a license to exploit other (generally female) bodies, as in Clovis Trouille’sJustine(1937), in which both a naked female figure and a lion are bound and captive.
    — Kelly Presutti, ARTnews.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of exploit
Verb
  • Fall Cool-season grasses benefit most from fertilizer applied in the fall.
    — Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Contrary to popular belief, applying ice or using a tourniquet can worsen the effects of a venomous snakebite by slowing blood flow.
    — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of apply
Verb
  • This metric measures the proportion of the working-age population that is either employed or actively seeking employment.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The same restraint applies to professors, who will not be permitted to employ AI to write syllabuses or course materials.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of employ

Browse Nearby Words

harms
harness
harnessed
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Cite this Entry

“Harness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harness. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on harness

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about harness

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