Definition of prizenext

prize

2 of 4

adjective

prize

3 of 4

verb (1)

1
2
as in to pull
to raise, move, or pull apart with or as if with a lever trying to prize apart the jammed gears

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

prize

4 of 4

verb (2)

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun prize differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of prize are booty, loot, plunder, spoils, and spoil. While all these words mean "something taken from another by force or craft," prize applies to spoils captured on the high seas or territorial waters of the enemy.

the wartime right of seizing prizes at sea

Where would booty be a reasonable alternative to prize?

The meanings of booty and prize largely overlap; however, booty implies plunder to be shared among confederates.

thieves dividing up their booty

When would loot be a good substitute for prize?

While the synonyms loot and prize are close in meaning, loot applies especially to what is taken from victims of a catastrophe.

picked through the ruins for loot

When might plunder be a better fit than prize?

Although the words plunder and prize have much in common, plunder applies to what is taken not only in war but in robbery, banditry, grafting, or swindling.

a bootlegger's plunder

How do spoil and spoils relate to one another, in the sense of prize?

Spoil, more commonly spoils, applies to what belongs by right or custom to the victor in war or political contest.

the spoils of political victory

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 prize
Noun
Nearly 570,000 other Powerball tickets sold in the United States also won prizes ranging from $4 to $100,000, the lottery said. Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 21 July 2026 Whether competing under the moniker of Mass Street or JHX Hoops, the former Jayhawks have repeatedly watched a $1 million prize slip away. Latif Love july 21, Kansas City Star, 21 July 2026
Verb
Toward the back, the walls filled with displays of patches from first-responder agencies worldwide — and in the seats beneath those patches, often, sat police and firefighters, whose company Fanara prized. Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026 Florists prize the berry-laden branches, while over a dozen species of bird feast on the fruits (which are toxic to humans and pets). Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 12 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for prize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prize
Noun
  • Symbolism Historically, dragon-slaying stories portrayed the treasure hoard as the ultimate test of a hero’s character.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 July 2026
  • Indonesia has intensified efforts in recent years to track down cultural treasures scattered abroad through colonial-era collecting, theft and illicit trafficking, including from the Netherlands, which colonized Indonesia for centuries.
    ABC News, ABC News, 23 July 2026
Noun
  • Both Collins and Dawsey received individual awards for their work as White House correspondents at this year’s ceremony.
    Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 25 July 2026
  • Raymond was a legitimate valedictory award for a show that had already won the Comedy Series Emmy once before in 2003.
    Joe Reid, Vulture, 25 July 2026
Adjective
  • Edoya, where brushes have been made by hand since 1718, is around the corner, and Nexpect, an excellent specialty coffee shop, is a short walk away.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 July 2026
  • Namely stage 13 when the race split into pieces, Tom Pidcock climbed back up the GC, Pedersen had to make a desperate attempt to reach Philipsen up the road to defend green, and the excellent Mauro Schmid got the victory his talent deserves.
    Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 27 July 2026
Verb
  • But still, there were some observations to pull from Wednesday’s first training camp practice under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker.
    Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 July 2026
  • Zelenskyy specified in his post on X that the parents of the kids were killed as well in the same attack, but two more children were pulled alive from under the rubble.
    ABC News, ABC News, 30 July 2026
Verb
  • This is pro sports, and valuing past performance against current or predicted production is a terrible data point.
    Mac Engel July 26, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 July 2026
  • Anthropic, which is valued at close to $1 trillion and has aspirations of going public in the near future, said stopping illicit distillation was a matter of national security.
    Kif Leswing,Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 25 July 2026
Noun
  • Along the corseted bodice and skirt, gold baguette gems added touches of sparkle.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 29 July 2026
  • The United States is home to an array of underrated gems offering a similarly relaxed ambiance and romantic aesthetic people seek out in their European getaways.
    Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 29 July 2026
Noun
  • Other accolades include the Joseph Plateau Honorary Award at Gent Film Festival, the Lifetime Achievement Award at the San Sebastian International Film Festival and Best Actress BAFTA award for her role in Appropriate Adult.
    Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 22 July 2026
  • For me, that’s kind of like a small accolade that most people don’t know about.
    Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 21 July 2026
Adjective
  • Important settlements have existed here since the Roman times, when it was described by the writer Ausonius as one of Gaul’s great educational centers.
    Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 26 July 2026
  • Getty Images Errol Spence had a great career, but at 36 years old and after three years out of the ring, the former world champion has hit his ceiling in boxing.
    Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prize. Accessed 30 Jul. 2026.

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