prize 1 of 4

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
Even though no prize will ever arrive, scammers continue to contact their victims to convince them that more money must be sent. Madhusree Mukerjee, Scientific American, 8 Oct. 2025 Keeping Pandora’s Box closed raises the prize pot. Leo Barraclough, Variety, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
Cricket still prizes the five-day Test match, a historical format that demands patience in a world addicted to instant entertainment. Rick Burton, Sportico.com, 6 Oct. 2025 Waters, who opened the Berkeley restaurant Chez Panisse in 1971, is the chef most closely identified with the farm-to-table movement, which shares an affinity with MAHA in prizing sustainably grown, locally sourced whole foods; from that same soil grew the farm-to-school movement. Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for prize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prize
Noun
  • Beyond its monetary value, the treasure hoard holds significant historical importance, the press release concluded.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 12 Oct. 2025
  • Foraging for Pawpaws Finding pawpaws feels a bit like finding hidden treasure.
    Stephanie Ganz, Southern Living, 12 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Today, the Nobel Prize in Physics remains widely regarded as the most prestigious award in the discipline.
    USA Today, USA Today, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The award will honor the best drama project selected from the MIA Drama Co-production Market & Pitching Forum, as chosen by a jury from Sony Pictures Television.
    Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Sims said Kaiser offers competitive pay and excellent health benefits, and is already reducing internal costs to make its latest wage offer to the Alliance of Health Care Unions — of which UNAC/UCHP is a member.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Alabama’s Ty Simpson was excellent, finishing 23-for-31 for 200 yards and three touchdowns through the air.
    Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 11 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Aberdeenshire This gem tucked right in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town offers an atmospheric home base for exploring the city.
    Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 12 Oct. 2025
  • The singer — whose life story was adapted into the 2012 musical Melanie and the Record Man — dropped several gems about her transformative festival experience during a 2018 interview with Best Classic Bands.
    Diane J. Cho, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The 29-year-old Wilson finished with 31 points and nine rebounds to add another ring to her collection of accolades which include being named MVP for a record-breaking fourth time this season.
    Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2025
  • The president’s chances of winning the accolade depend on a number of factors including the durability of the ceasefire agreements his regime helped organize in 2025.
    James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • For those who are ready to trade in their simple drip coffee set up for something a bit more advanced, Seattle Coffee Gear is a great independent retailer for coffee-brewing appliances and accessories.
    Melissa Knific, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Being a great place to work is about structure as well as culture, whether the business in question is listed, family-owned or private equity-backed.
    Rebecca Ann Hughes, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • To be sure, the brand is known for the Létrange Empreinte bag and its sculptural twisted handle, that was originally intended to be a jewel itself before creative director Mathias Jaquemet put it on the leather accessory.
    Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Like a teapot on a slow boil, they are supposed to heat up gradually over many months, riding a rising tension that reaches its crescendo in its final weeks, as players or teams slug it out for that last jewel.
    Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The ‘Mahabharat’ enabled by AI is a wonderful example of how tradition and technology can work hand in hand.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Again and again, striking out into the unknown led to wonderful new possibilities, making my life grow larger and deeper.
    Sarah Chamberlain, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prize. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.

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