GAINFUL Synonyms: 19 Similar and Opposite Words

gainful

adjective

ˈgān-fəl

Definition of gainful

as in lucrative

yielding a profit graduated from school and went looking for gainful employment

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 gainful Where do alien nerds find gainful employ? — Literary Hub, 19 Nov. 2025 At her age, being prickly was neither enchanting nor gainful. — Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 15 June 2025 Schools that do not meet gainful employment expectations risk losing access to federal funding. — Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 2 June 2025 Or workers could simply have given up on Martinsville and moved elsewhere in search of gainful employment. — Gordon H. Hanson, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2021 See All Example Sentences for gainful

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gainful

Adjective

But even in that latter case, a two-way contract pays only half of the NBA minimum salary, with older players often able to find something more lucrative overseas.

— Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 9 July 2026
For a rocket company, cracking into the lucrative US military launch market is both a sign of maturity, as well as an important source of revenue.

— Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 9 July 2026

Definition of lucrative

Adjective

In February, the board pivoted and entered negotiations with Sunrise Senior Living, whose proposal is more profitable, has a faster timeline and provides more space for community amenities, according to the district.

— Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
Right-sizing your system to the existing demand in the marketplace is the way for independents to get profitable outcomes from their distribution system.

— Daren Smith, IndieWire, 8 July 2026

Definition of profitable

Adjective

This type of over-the-top promotion model has long been used by the network as a way to convince advertisers that running commercials on its airways is worthwhile, noted University of Oregon advertising professor Christopher Chávez.

— Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
His monologue—the whole book is a monologue—is, in fact, a stream of statements about what’s worthwhile, more than what’s worthless.

— Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026

Definition of worthwhile

Browse Nearby Words

gainers

gainful

gain ground

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“Gainful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gainful. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of gainful

adjective

Example Sentences

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