AWARD Synonyms: 139 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'award' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of award are accord , concede , grant , and vouchsafe . While all these words mean "to give as a favor or a right," award implies giving what is deserved or merited usually after a careful weighing of pertinent factors. // awarded the company a huge defense contract

Q: When is 'accord' a more appropriate choice than 'award'?

Although the words accord and award have much in common, accord implies giving to another what is due or proper. // accorded all the honors befitting a head of state

Q: When can 'concede' be used instead of 'award'?

While in some cases nearly identical to award , concede implies yielding something reluctantly in response to a rightful or compelling claim. // even her critics concede she can be charming

Q: In what contexts can 'grant' take the place of 'award'?

The meanings of grant and award largely overlap; however, grant implies giving to a claimant or petitioner something that could be withheld. // granted them a new hearing

Q: Where would 'vouchsafe' be a reasonable alternative to 'award'?

The words vouchsafe and award can be used in similar contexts, but vouchsafe implies granting something as a courtesy or an act of gracious condescension. // vouchsafed the secret to only a few chosen disciples

award 1 of 2

noun

Definition of award

as in prize

something given in recognition of achievement Faye received the highest award in the 16 and under category for her poem

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in decision

a position arrived at after consideration in their award the board of arbitrators declared that both writers deserved screen credit for their contributions to the final screenplay

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

award

2 of 2

verb

ə-ˈwȯrd

as in to reward

to give something as a token of gratitude or admiration for a service or achievement we will award the top three contestants in the essay competition

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to grant

to give the ownership or benefit of (something) formally or publicly custody of the boy was awarded to the grandparents

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb award contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of award are accord, concede, grant, and vouchsafe. While all these words mean "to give as a favor or a right," award implies giving what is deserved or merited usually after a careful weighing of pertinent factors.

awarded the company a huge defense contract

When is accord a more appropriate choice than award?

Although the words accord and award have much in common, accord implies giving to another what is due or proper.

accorded all the honors befitting a head of state

When can concede be used instead of award?

While in some cases nearly identical to award, concede implies yielding something reluctantly in response to a rightful or compelling claim.

even her critics concede she can be charming

In what contexts can grant take the place of award?

The meanings of grant and award largely overlap; however, grant implies giving to a claimant or petitioner something that could be withheld.

granted them a new hearing

Where would vouchsafe be a reasonable alternative to award?

The words vouchsafe and award can be used in similar contexts, but vouchsafe implies granting something as a courtesy or an act of gracious condescension.

vouchsafed the secret to only a few chosen disciples

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 award

Noun

The 42nd edition of the Warsaw International Film Festival is wrapping up on Sunday after its winners were unveiled during a Saturday night awards ceremony. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 18 Oct. 2026 The Academy Museum gala has quickly become one of the most star-studded events of the second half of the year, serving as a soft opening to the upcoming awards season. — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 18 Oct. 2026

Verb

In addition to the €35,000 awarded to the winner, ADIAF, the prize’s sponsor, provides an additional €40,000 in financial support to the nominees and their galleries, as well as a feature in a dedicated annual publication. — Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 23 Oct. 2026 Leaders said the program's 200th grant will be awarded at the start of 2027. — Frankie McLister, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for award

Recent Examples of Synonyms for award

Noun

An image of ink droplets inside a printer has won first prize at the Nikon Small World photomicrography competition, which focuses on images taken through a microscope.

— Jack Guy, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2026
Congratulations to Zane Li, who has now won enough young-designer prizes to have something like an EGOT, and to Aisling Camps and Emily Dawn Long, who are this year’s runners-up.

— José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of prize

Noun

According to reporting by Semafor on Monday, the decision came after Wall Street executives privately raised safety concerns about attending the event with the event’s organizers, including Saudi sovereign fund PIF’s governor, Yasir Al-Rumayyan.

— Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
Prince Harry is opening up about his and wife Meghan Markle’s unexpected decision earlier this year to move back to the United Kingdom years after their dramatic fallout with the British royal family.

— Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of decision

Verb

Curiously, despite the plunderphonic conceit that structures the album, there are few moments that reward the listener for recognizing a pop-culture snippet.

— Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 20 Oct. 2026
Multiple studies now show that dopamine cells in these circuits signal prediction errors related to reward.

— Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of reward

Verb

Last week, a federal judge granted the news outlets their request for a preliminary injunction against the government ban as the case moves through the legal system.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026
If the project is deemed viable, UC Davis will lead the efforts on fundraising and grant acquisition to finance construction costs.

— Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of grant

Noun

Over the course of her long career, Curtis, 67, has developed a lengthy résumé in film and television, winning numerous accolades along the way, including an Oscar and an Emmy (she’s been nominated for a Grammy too — there’s still time for an EGOT).

— Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Women who've accepted their past mistakes aren't used to accepting accolades.

— Noel Brennan, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of accolade

Verb

The 17th-century Georgian stone building is now Hamilton House, a museum that houses documents from the famous forefather’s early years and features exhibits honoring other Caribbean personalities.

— ABC News, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026
For robotexts covered by federal consent rules, revocation requests must generally be honored within 10 business days.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of honor

Noun

One of Bilton and Weiss’s signature new on-air hires is the conservative writer Ross Douthat, formerly an opinion columnist for the Times.

— Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
Much of its work, particularly on national security matters, remains shielded from public view, but some of the office’s conclusions have emerged in often dense legal opinions.

— Perry Stein, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of opinion

Browse Nearby Words

awaking

award

awarded

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Style

“Award.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/award. Accessed 25 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of award

noun

verb

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