1
as in achieves
to obtain (as a goal) through effort
Napoléon had attained mastery of much of Europe at that point
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in earns
to receive as return for effort
with hard work she will inevitably attain success in her chosen profession
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of attains
But if a person seeking status is already wealthy or attains corporate sponsorship, for instance, a viable pathway to citizenship opens up, even if only slightly.
—
Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2026
Gemini attains a very favorable position almost directly overhead.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 12 Dec. 2025
Robert surreptitiously attains Alfred’s workbook/diary, where many secrets may exist.
—Kirk Honeycutt, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2025
Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2026
Gemini attains a very favorable position almost directly overhead.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 12 Dec. 2025
Robert surreptitiously attains Alfred’s workbook/diary, where many secrets may exist.
—Kirk Honeycutt, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attains
Verb
-
Grandparents are not interested in performance or outcomes, but in substance — not in what a child achieves, but in who that child becomes.—
Peter Folan,
Boston Herald,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Indeed, the level of global acclaim Jackson, who tragically died in 2009 at the untimely age of 50 due to acute propofol intoxication, achieves is unprecedented.—
Keith Murphy,
VIBE.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Everything here earns its spot in my suitcase and helps avoid that last-minute reshuffle at the gate or worse, an unexpected overweight baggage fee.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The sport adaptive air suspension earns its keep here.—
Chris Jackson,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Desperation wins in the playoffs.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
25 Apr. 2026
-
In three games against Escondido this week — Mission Hills wins by 15-2, 9-1 and 10-0 — Mulford, who had a double and triple Friday, was 7 of 12 with 12 RBIs.—
John Maffei,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
However, an artist’s innate defiance reaps the best art.—
Heide Janssen,
Oc Register,
19 Apr. 2026
-
The mower does the work, and your lawn reaps the benefits.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
After being injected with a mysterious serum, Gabriel gains extraordinary strength, speed, and resilience.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The climate gains too, since these data centers are powered by 95% renewable energy, avoiding 10 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions over 20 years from just one 100-megawatt facility.—
Todd Larsen,
Baltimore Sun,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
If no one candidate garners more that 50% of the vote, as occurred in Bass’s battle with developer Rick Caruso in 2022, then the election goes to a runoff on November 3 – the same day as the nationwide midterms.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
21 Apr. 2026
-
By all appearances, the title had all the makings of a hit doc, the kind of movie that garners serious buzz by word-of-mouth.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
An employer subject to a stop order must pay its employees for up to 10 days for time lost until the employer obtains insurance.—
Dan Eaton,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Whatever efficiency may be gained from using the tool could easily be undone in the event a threat actor obtains the keys to a network kingdom.—
Dan Goodin,
ArsTechnica,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Laurence’s tres leches gets a lot of praise for its crumb texture.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The coming months will bring more announcements and more excitement as June 2026 gets closer.—
Taylor Haught,
Kansas City Star,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Attains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attains. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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