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
In the event of cancellation, Sponsor will award the prizes in a drawing from among all eligible, non-suspect entries received prior to cancellation. AJC.com, 13 July 2026 But long before the show’s final ceremony, prediction markets showed that Trinity and Bryce had a lock on this season’s $100,000 prize. Joy Press, Vanity Fair, 13 July 2026
Verb
Oceanfront has long been treated as the aristocrat of waterfront living, prized for its horizon lines, lull of the tide and powerful symbolism of standing where land gives way. Spencer Elliott, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026 The cast features young star actor Izaac Wang, most well known for his lead role in the 2024 coming-of-age drama and Sundance-Winner Dìdi, which was prized Best Youth Performance from the San Diego Film Critics Society in 2024. News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for prize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prize
Noun
  • The Atocha, a Spanish treasure galleon, sank in a hurricane off the Florida Keys in 1622 while carrying silver, gold and emeralds.
    Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 14 July 2026
  • Vintage Clothes, Jewelry, and Watches Paxton says vintage clothes, jewelry, and watches are one of the top categories for hidden attic treasures worth big bucks.
    Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 July 2026
Noun
  • Carpenter is a co-founder and the CEO of Embarc, the cannabis dispensary company that has sponsored the fair’s cannabis awards and exhibit for the last five years.
    Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 19 July 2026
  • Between the new awards structure, the live broadcast plans, and a Disability Advisory Committee with authority over how the event takes shape.
    Keely Cat-Wells, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
Adjective
  • The roofline leaves enough headroom for actual adults, the cargo area is genuinely useful, and visibility remains excellent.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 20 July 2026
  • City Colleges of Chicago, the University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago State University and National Louis University, among others, have built their reputations on the premise that everyone deserves access to an excellent education.
    Andrea Sáenz, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2026
Verb
  • Eileen Tyrrell, a 27-year-old bookseller, pulled the cushions off her couch to arrange makeshift seating in her Brooklyn apartment.
    Grey Battle, Washington Post, 16 July 2026
  • The strong currents from flash floods can pull drivers off roadways.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026
Verb
  • New attractions include the Hip Hop ride, a traveling grand carousel with horses valued over $30,000 each and the first-ever First Peoples’ Art Showcase.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 18 July 2026
  • Forbes Valuation Forbes values Black’s net worth at $13 billion as of Friday afternoon.
    Alison Durkee, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Noun
  • Those who get lost in the new-wave draft shuffle are the promising high school prospects and the junior college gems.
    Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2026
  • Tim Lincecum threw the second no-hitter in 11 days, a gem saved by a spectacular diving catch by right fielder Hunter Pence in the San Francisco Giants’ 9-0 win against the last-place San Diego Padres.
    Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026
Noun
  • Despite any accolades that may have come, the environment for an independent artist seemed gloomier than ever.
    Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 17 July 2026
  • Fifty years later the wines are still delicious and garnering accolades and awards.
    Mike DeSimone, Robb Report, 17 July 2026
Adjective
  • There are good footballers, there are great footballers and then there is Messi, who plays as if he has been sent here from another dimension, a superior life form inside the 5ft 7in frame of a normal guy from Rosario, Argentina.
    Oliver Kay, New York Times, 19 July 2026
  • Healthcare's greatest crisis isn't financial or technological.
    Sachin H. Jain, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Prize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prize. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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