prize 1 of 4

Definition of prizenext

prize

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adjective

prize

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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

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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
The film, which is among the hot acquisition titles at the festival, picked up a grand jury prize and an audience award, both in dramatic categories. Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 30 Jan. 2026 None of this year's nominees for Album of the Year has ever won the top prize. Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
For centuries, it has been prized as a dye, medicine and incense. Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026 Miranda Cullen, interior designer and founder of Inside Stories, notes that French door models are particularly prized for their adaptability. Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 19 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for prize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prize
Noun
  • The dictator had set his mind on claiming all the sunken treasure off his country’s coast and would brook no competition.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
  • Explore the Museum of Underwater Art, Australia Snorkelers and scuba divers glide by dozens of underwater art installations at this museum filled with sunken treasures.
    Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 28 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Penny Weaver is an award-winning journalist who covers crime, law enforcement, court proceedings and more for the River Valley Democrat-Gazette.
    Penny Weaver, Arkansas Online, 28 Jan. 2026
  • Winners will receive their awards in June in Evanston, Illinois at the AJL’s annual conference.
    Penny Schwartz, Sun Sentinel, 27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • The German is an excellent all-round forward who excels in bringing the best out of the teammates around him.
    Graham Ruthven, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
  • While not every product in the brand’s SOS collection includes hypochlorous acid (an excellent anti-acneic ingredient), the serum does.
    Kiana Murden, Vogue, 29 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Daley Ranch is an Escondido natural gem, resting on more than 3,000 acres of land with over 20 miles of trails.
    Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
  • These textured studs from Paris brand Agapée feature a green gem that ties perfectly with the dress.
    Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 23 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Chalamet has counted a Critics Choice Award, Palm Springs International Film Festival award and a nomination at the upcoming Actor Awards among his accolades for Marty Supreme (all one year after earning the same nods for playing Bob Dylan in 2024’s A Complete Unknown).
    Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
  • The volume was eventually reprinted in the Modern Library—an accolade that greatly pleased its author.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • There are plenty of great restaurants, but alongside them disappointments.
    Kate Krader, Bloomberg, 28 Jan. 2026
  • Another 2022 study from Rutgers University, focused on COVID-19 news, found that greater daily exposure to news about the virus was linked to higher same-day and next-day worry about the pandemic as well as feelings of hopelessness and general worry.
    Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 28 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • April 24 Launched last season, the crown jewel of the Basin’s adventure dining offerings is the Progressive Skinner’s Dinner, each of its four courses requiring some traveling.
    Shauna Farnell, Denver Post, 29 Jan. 2026
  • Taking its name from Don Winslow’s novella, Crime 101 stars Chris Hemsworth as Mike, a lone-wolf jewel thief operating along the Pacific Coast Highway.
    Damon Wise, Deadline, 29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Thank you all for a wonderful discussion.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
  • The team Pep Guardiola built in the early 2010s, combining the wonderful passing of Xavi Hernandez and Andrés Iniesta with the twinkling magic of Lionel Messi, will forever be remembered.
    Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prize. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

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