1
as in to commit
to obligate by prior agreement
I would love to go to dinner with you, but I've pledged myself to a play with my parents that night
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to pawn
to leave as a guarantee of repayment of a loan
pledged their house against the loan
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to vow
to make a solemn declaration of intent
I pledge that I will abide by all of the rules of this organization
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in guarantee
something given or held to assure that the giver will keep a promise
I was required to leave my keys as a pledge that I would bring the car back
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in promise
a person's solemn declaration that he or she will do or not do something
made a pledge to quit smoking
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 pledge
Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2026
Powell has pledged not to leave the central bank until the probe is over.
—Andrew Goudsward, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
ABC News, 30 Mar. 2026
On Monday, Nicklaus CEO Matthew Love became the first health system leader in Florida to sign the farm-to-hospital pledge.
—Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pledge
Verb
Havana has previously conducted sweeping prisoner releases as part of deals with international parties – for instance, in early 2025, Cuba released 553 prisoners after negotiations with the US and the Vatican, in which the Biden administration pledged to ease sanctions on the island.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2026
Powell has pledged not to leave the central bank until the probe is over.
—Andrew Goudsward, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
Noun
The pledge also came on the same day that another student was detained while attempting to enter a school with a loaded firearm.
—ABC News, 30 Mar. 2026
On Monday, Nicklaus CEO Matthew Love became the first health system leader in Florida to sign the farm-to-hospital pledge.
—Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pledge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pledge
Verb
-
Gluting committed after finding that fit at Oklahoma.—
Paul Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
-
In both, the Twins took advantage of some poor infield defense from the Rays, who committed three errors in the game, on their way to victory.—
Betsy Helfand,
Twin Cities,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
After being blackballed from the finance sector, Coop resorts to burglarizing the homes of those in his social circle and pawning the items to stay afloat.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Burglarizing the homes of those in his social circle and pawning the items just to stay afloat.—
Ryan Brennan
April 1,
Miami Herald,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In the wake of their mother's death, Dias, who relocated to Ocala to care for her grandchildren, vowed not to leave their side.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Steers died earlier this year, but the organization has vowed to keep its mission of protecting Big Bear's wildlife and their habitat.—
Chelsea Hylton,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Cuban-American entrepreneurs cited the lack of legal guarantees for investing in Cuba under current laws as one key concern holding up any desire to contribute to economic progress on the island.—
Sarah Moreno
Updated April 1,
Miami Herald,
1 Apr. 2026
-
In the late 19th century, the Supreme Court clarified that the guarantee extends to the children of immigrants.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Teamwork thrives when promises are specific, and as tough Saturn sextiles excavating Pluto, your friendship zone and your travel sector combine.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The end of the Miami Marlins’ 2025 season showed the promise that lies in the organization’s future.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
SimpleImages / Getty Images In a conventional savings or investing climate, depositing a large sum into a long-term certificate of deposit (CD) isn't often the best choice for savers.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Lawn mowing season is coming, which means that trash that is not picked up and plastic netting will be cut into smaller plastic pieces to be deposited in Naperville soil for thousands of years.—
Naperville Sun,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Tensions rose, neighbors said, to the point that King was heard at times swearing at Kirsten Wells as well as others using vulgar epithets.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The president is set to appoint Shah as the prime minister of Nepal, and to swear him in on Friday.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Still, cuts to the airport security agency would come at a critical time for air travel with rising concerns about air safety after more than 500 TSA officers quit in recent weeks and amid a longstanding shortage of air traffic controllers.—
Reuters,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Glossing other people’s words brought a sense of security but wouldn’t help children confront life’s horrors.—
Tim Parks,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pledge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pledge. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
