ATTAINS Synonyms: 75 Similar and Opposite Words

attains

verb

present tense third-person singular of attain

as in achieves

to obtain (as a goal) through effort Napoléon had attained mastery of much of Europe at that point

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in earns

to receive as return for effort with hard work she will inevitably attain success in her chosen profession

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for attains

Verb

Iran’s hardline regime achieves a victory of sorts simply by enduring and surviving.

— Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
While the company sells valuable patient monitoring devices and has strong positions inside hospitals, its margins lag what Danaher typically achieves.

— Harvey Stober, CNBC, 16 July 2026

Definition of achieves

Verb

In addition, England earns a larger share of the tournament prize money — $2 million more — with the third-place team taking home $29 million and the fourth-place team getting $27 million.

— Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 18 July 2026
Recommendation capital is the cumulative trust a company earns when customers, employees, partners and communities voluntarily advocate on its behalf.

— Janita Pannu, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Definition of earns

Verb

Successive Copa America wins in 2021 and 2023, either side of the 2022 World Cup victory in Qatar, have brought Lionel Messi and Co global admiration.

— Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 19 July 2026
If Spain wins, Yamal would become the third-youngest player, behind Pele and Italy’s Giuseppe Bergomi, to start and win a World Cup final (while teammate Cubarsi, some six months older, would become the fourth-youngest).

— Sean Gregory, Time, 18 July 2026

Definition of wins

Verb

Research and development accounts for an average of just 4% of European countries’ defense budgets, compared to 10% for the United States – which reaps significant economic multiplier effects from that military spending.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 8 July 2026
With these words, Nellie sews a field's worth of dramatic tension that the series reaps for seasons to come.

— Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 3 July 2026

Definition of reaps

Verb

The idea garners rare bipartisan interest, potentially providing AI companies legitimacy and addressing public anxiety about the technology's future impact.

— James Broughel, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
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

Definition of garners

Verb

The city will collect 5% annual interest on OAC’s future payments, the first of which would be expected five years after closing or when the group obtains formal city approval for its redevelopment plans, whichever comes earlier.

— Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 13 July 2026
The state obtains the money by selling bonds to investors and agrees to repay it, with interest, per a specified schedule.

— Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 26 June 2026

Definition of obtains

Verb

In the city of Mashhad in northeast Iran, there's a natural history museum associated with local Ferdowsi University that gets all manner of donations, including animals that died in the road and injured birds.

— Ari Daniel, NPR, 17 July 2026
January 20 – February 18 Fun gets easier when the money boundary is not pretending to be flexible.

— Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 2026

Definition of gets

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“Attains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attains. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of attains

verb

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