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
By the end of the novel, Sun Wukong attains Buddhahood.
—
Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 May 2026
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
Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 May 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attains
Verb
-
Their antagonism peaked at the end of Season 3, when Deborah achieves her dream of landing a late-night chair and Ava blackmails her way into the head-writer job.—
Michael Schulman,
New Yorker,
29 May 2026
-
Ultimately, all this achieves is making Davis feel like the odd-one-out, spending most of her arc running around with her side-piece rather than working with her neighbors.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Johnny's Gold Brick Johnny's Gold Brick earns its reputation without trying to impress anyone.—
Carrie Honaker,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
5 June 2026
-
Families could also consider a 529 college savings plan, a custodial account for minors under the Uniform Gifts to Minors Act or Uniform Transfers to Minors Act, also known as UGMA and UTMA, and, if a child earns income, a Roth individual retirement account.—
Jessica Dickler,Greg Iacurci,
CNBC,
5 June 2026
Verb
-
Whoever wins the primary is expected to prevail in the general, as the state currently leans Democratic in nonpresidential elections.—
Aidan McLaughlin,
Vanity Fair,
29 May 2026
-
Thus, a team that wins the lottery will have its second-round pick slotted 46th, and the team picking 16th will also have pick 31.—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Brendan Shanahan surely reaps the rewards for forever believing in Marner and the Core Four and continues as team president into the present.—
Jonas Siegel,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
-
However, an artist’s innate defiance reaps the best art.—
Heide Janssen,
Oc Register,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Cobolli automatically gains a spot in Sunday’s final against second-seeded Alexander Zverev of Germany, who defeated Jakub Menšík of the Czech Republic earlier on Friday.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
5 June 2026
-
Lukashenko gains bargaining power, and the West’s common position becomes harder to sustain.—
Tatsiana Kulakevich,
The Conversation,
4 June 2026
Verb
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As Wembanyama garners worldwide attention, arriving right at Tatum and Silver’s New York doorstep in a moment that could change the sport, the NBA’s desire to expand hastens.—
Jared Weiss,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
-
Unless one candidate garners more than 50% of the votes to outright win the seat, the top two vote-getters will move on to the November general election ballot.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
When Social Security benefits are electronically deposited into a bank account, federal banking rules require banks and other financial institutions to protect a certain amount of those benefits if a creditor obtains a court order to levy the account.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
3 June 2026
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Charges can elevate to a first-degree felony if parents don’t safely secure firearms, which the minor then obtains and uses to cause death or great bodily injury, which is punishable by up to three years, Bala said.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
Kenny gets into two different arguments about this word.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
10 June 2026
-
Hugh Laurie gets diagnosis wrong again.—
Janelle Ash,
FOXNews.com,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Attains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attains. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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