ACHIEVEMENT Synonyms: 80 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'achievement' differ from other similar words?

The words exploit and feat are common synonyms of achievement . While all three words mean "a remarkable deed," achievement implies hard-won success in the face of difficulty or opposition. // her achievements as a chemist

Q: When can 'exploit' be used instead of 'achievement'?

In some situations, the words exploit and achievement are roughly equivalent. However, exploit suggests an adventurous or heroic act. // his exploits as a spy

Q: When is it sensible to use 'feat' instead of 'achievement'?

The words feat and achievement can be used in similar contexts, but feat implies strength or dexterity or daring. // an acrobatic feat

achievement

noun

ə-ˈchēv-mənt

Definition of achievement

as in success

a successful result brought about by hard work this improvement in your time for a 10K road race is quite an achievement!

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in execution

the doing of an action what you're asking is the achievement of a miracle

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in accomplishment

the state of being actual or complete you should be proud of the achievement of your goals

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun achievement differ from other similar words?

The words exploit and feat are common synonyms of achievement. While all three words mean "a remarkable deed," achievement implies hard-won success in the face of difficulty or opposition.

her achievements as a chemist

When can exploit be used instead of achievement?

In some situations, the words exploit and achievement are roughly equivalent. However, exploit suggests an adventurous or heroic act.

his exploits as a spy

When is it sensible to use feat instead of achievement?

The words feat and achievement can be used in similar contexts, but feat implies strength or dexterity or daring.

an acrobatic feat

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 achievement The following decade saw the emergence of the Baby Ruth, Chuckles, Goldenberg's Peanut Chews, the Mounds bar, and the malty Milky Way bar, always a favorite of mine and the first of many signal achievements of the Mars family. — Jeffrey Steingarten, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2026 The strategy defines six goals that are intended to address each of the challenges alongside corresponding objectives to guide NASA’s achievements of the goals. — David Zamora, Space.com, 23 Oct. 2026 YPulse’s reporting on Gen Z shopping habits digs into how younger buyers can treat finding affordable alternatives as a legit shopping achievement. — Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2026 The Brundle Edition Turbo is Charlie’s way of channeling her father’s many track achievements into a single car. — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for achievement

Recent Examples of Synonyms for achievement

Noun

Manfred says small-market success is rare, while the union argues the Rays-Brewers World Series matchup shows baseball can work without a cap.

— Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
Mishkin owes some of the success of her label, Naomi Nomi, to a growing backlash against companies – from the luxury tier on down to mall brands and fast fashion – that have tried to pull the synthetic poly-blend wool over our eyes.

— Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of success

Noun

Sarah Kimani, Amnesty International’s media manager, told the AP in a January interview that the organization’s research documents summary executions, torture, abductions and rape by both government forces and the OLA.

— ABC News, ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026
The idea matters, but anyone can have an idea; what matters most is the execution of that idea.

— Miles Socha, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of execution

Noun

In her new role, Danielle will help celebrate her aunt's life and accomplishments while offering a personal perspective on the woman behind the music, according to a press release announcing the appointment.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
But even with their growing lists of accomplishments, all three designers acknowledge that running an independent label has its challenges.

— Vogue, Vogue, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of accomplishment

Noun

In stark contrast to these figures, the fulfillment of existing emissions reduction pledges would only yield a 5-to-8% emissions cut by 2030 and an 11-to-15% reduction by 2035, the report found.

— Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2026
Should inventory be staged closer to fulfillment centers or major retail distribution hubs?

— Tom Wicky, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of fulfillment

Noun

Already offputting, Reid’s performance of Rapp’s dawning realizations — flipping from dismissive skepticism to feverish belief with little in between — grows less grounded by the minute.

— Alison Herman, Variety, 23 Oct. 2026
That epiphanic realization is the basis for Perfecth (Matador).

— Jason Pettigrew, SPIN, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of realization

Noun

The policy provides a six-month implementation period after the bill becomes law, with an extra six-month grace period for businesses that can't implement the change until their next fiscal year or budget cycle begins.

— Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
The new rules are part of the implementation of the GENIUS Act, which was signed into law last year and was meant to codify the rules and regulations around issuers of stablecoins.

— ABC News, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of implementation

Noun

What happens when the response to the horror of 9/11 becomes an arena for perpetration of further crimes, rather than the healing of wounds already inflicted?

— Christopher Coffman, The Conversation, 24 Aug. 2026
Pipkins is charged with kidnapping and first-degree murder in perpetration of a kidnapping.

— KC Baker, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025

Definition of perpetration

Noun

This year, the multiplatinum band celebrates its 50th anniversary and has scheduled performances throughout California for the remainder of the year.

— Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
SpaceX shares jumped nearly 8% on Wednesday, their best single-session performance since August.

— Morgan Chittum, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of performance

Browse Nearby Words

achieved

achievement

achievements

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Achievement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/achievement. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of achievement

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on achievement

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

grotesque

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes