The word "applied" is the past tense and past participle of the verb "apply." "Apply" has several meanings such as to put into use, to request something formally, or to spread or rub something onto a surface. Here are some synonyms and an analysis for each of its main meanings:
1. When "applied" means "put into use"
- Utilized: This is a very close synonym. It emphasizes the practical use of something. For example, "The new technology was applied/utilized in the manufacturing process." The difference between "applied" and "utilized" is quite subtle. "Applied" can sometimes imply a more deliberate or intentional act of putting a theory, method, or tool to work, while "utilized" might focus more on the actual extraction of benefit or value from using something.
- Employed: It also means to use something for a particular purpose. For example, "Advanced statistical methods were applied/employed to analyze the data." "Employed" can give a sense of using something as a means to an end, often in a more professional or organized context. It is commonly used when talking about using skills, resources, or techniques.
- Implemented: This implies the act of putting a plan, policy, or system into effect. For example, "The new safety regulations were applied/implemented in the factory." "Implemented" has a stronger connotation of carrying out a specific set of instructions or ideas. It emphasizes the process of making something operational, which is a more active and involved sense of using something compared to a more general "applied."
2. When "applied" means "requested formally"
- Submitted: For example, "He applied/submitted his application for the job." "Submitted" emphasizes the act of giving or presenting something (like a form, a request, etc.) to an authority or an organization for consideration. It is a more specific way of saying that a formal request has been made and is often used in bureaucratic or institutional contexts.
- Tendered: This is a more formal synonym. For example, "She applied/tendered her resignation." "Tendered" gives a sense of a formal and polite presentation of a request, often with a certain air of solemnity. It is not as commonly used as "submitted" but has a more traditional and perhaps legal - sounding tone when it comes to formal applications.
3. When "applied" means "spread or rubbed onto a surface"
- Smudged: For example, "The lotion was applied/smudged onto the skin." However, "smudged" has a connotation of a less - than - perfect or perhaps accidental spreading. It often implies a messy or less - than - precise application.
- Smeared: This implies a more forceful or less - controlled spreading. For example, "The paint was applied/smeared on the wall." "Smeared" can give the idea of a thick or uneven application, as if the substance was pushed or dragged across the surface rather than carefully applied.
- Daubed: It means to apply a substance thickly and often in a rough or clumsy way. For example, "The clay was applied/daubed onto the pottery." "Daubed" gives a sense of a more artisanal or rustic application, as if the material was being put on in a more haphazard but perhaps creative manner.