ACHIEVE Synonyms: 82 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'achieve' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of achieve are accomplish , discharge , effect , execute , fulfill , and perform . While all these words mean "to carry out or into effect," achieve adds to accomplish the implication of conquered difficulties. // achieve greatness

Q: When might 'accomplish' be a better fit than 'achieve'?

While in some cases nearly identical to achieve , accomplish stresses the successful completion of a process rather than the means of carrying it out. // accomplished everything they set out to do

Q: In what contexts can 'discharge' take the place of 'achieve'?

The meanings of discharge and achieve largely overlap; however, discharge implies execution and completion of appointed duties or tasks. // discharged his duties

Q: How are the words 'effect' and 'achieve' related?

Effect adds to achieve an emphasis on the inherent force in the agent capable of surmounting obstacles. // effected sweeping reforms

Q: When could 'execute' be used to replace 'achieve'?

The words execute and achieve are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, execute stresses the carrying out of what exists in plan or in intent. // executed the hit-and-run

Q: When is 'fulfill' a more appropriate choice than 'achieve'?

The synonyms fulfill and achieve are sometimes interchangeable, but fulfill implies a complete realization of ends or possibilities. // fulfilled their ambitions

Q: When would 'perform' be a good substitute for 'achieve'?

In some situations, the words perform and achieve are roughly equivalent. However, perform implies action that follows established patterns or procedures or fulfills agreed-upon requirements and often connotes special skill. // performed gymnastics

achieve

verb

ə-ˈchēv

Definition of achieve next

as in to attain

to obtain (as a goal) through effort finally achieved stardom

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to accomplish

to carry through (as a process) to completion finally achieved his purpose, which was to form a first-class boys' choir made up of inner-city kids

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb achieve contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of achieve are accomplish, discharge, effect, execute, fulfill, and perform. While all these words mean "to carry out or into effect," achieve adds to accomplish the implication of conquered difficulties.

achieve greatness

When might accomplish be a better fit than achieve?

While in some cases nearly identical to achieve, accomplish stresses the successful completion of a process rather than the means of carrying it out.

accomplished everything they set out to do

In what contexts can discharge take the place of achieve?

The meanings of discharge and achieve largely overlap; however, discharge implies execution and completion of appointed duties or tasks.

discharged his duties

How are the words effect and achieve related?

Effect adds to achieve an emphasis on the inherent force in the agent capable of surmounting obstacles.

effected sweeping reforms

When could execute be used to replace achieve?

The words execute and achieve are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, execute stresses the carrying out of what exists in plan or in intent.

executed the hit-and-run

When is fulfill a more appropriate choice than achieve?

The synonyms fulfill and achieve are sometimes interchangeable, but fulfill implies a complete realization of ends or possibilities.

fulfilled their ambitions

When would perform be a good substitute for achieve?

In some situations, the words perform and achieve are roughly equivalent. However, perform implies action that follows established patterns or procedures or fulfills agreed-upon requirements and often connotes special skill.

performed gymnastics

Examples of achieve in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Finally, the ribbed socks above the ankle achieve a more casual and modern tone in the way that wearing tights never could. —

Marta Martínez Tato, Glamour, 23 Oct. 2024 My anxieties prior to that were not getting it, and now the world has actually been achieved, and not just an idea. —

Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2024 The biggest hurdle might be achieving her larger-than-life hair that has vexed fans and media alike. —

Chiara Kim, People.com, 23 Oct. 2024 Even businesses, municipalities and advocates are uniting around an ambitious goal of achieving 100% clean power by 2045 by investing billions in renewable energy and eliminating the root cause of climate change — burning fossil fuels. —

Nayamin Martinez, The Mercury News, 11 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for achieve

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'achieve.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.