1
as in rewarding
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
Relevance
2
as in granting
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of awarding
Cinema Eye cast a wide glance across the nonfiction space, awarding prizes to multiple films.
—
Matthew Carey, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2026
One potential workaround for the NBA would be awarding the Heat a compensatory first-round pick in 2027, which would allow Miami to trade four first-round picks.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2026
Their most exciting decision — awarding Best Actress to Kathleen Chalfant for the MFL-ineligible Familiar Touch — won’t have any impact on the league, unfortunately, but Ethan Hawke picked up yet another valuable Best Actor win for his performance in Blue Moon.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 6 Jan. 2026
Grinnell College honored her by awarding her an honorary doctorate and naming a residence hall after her.
—Nick El Hajj, Des Moines Register, 5 Jan. 2026
The appellate court sided with Kolalou and upheld the verdict awarding her nearly $3 million.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 4 Jan. 2026
The agreement also confirms that the close of fiscal 2025 will not prevent the NIH from reviewing or awarding any applications.
—Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 30 Dec. 2025
The foundation has donated to various causes, from awarding over $2 million in scholarships for students attending HBCUs to donating $6 million to coronavirus relief in 2020.
—Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 29 Dec. 2025
In Friday’s decision, the jury also ruled in Retsel’s countersuit against NDN Collective that the group had acted as a nuisance in its protests against the hotel, awarding $812 to the company.
—Sarah Raza, Fortune, 21 Dec. 2025
Matthew Carey, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2026
One potential workaround for the NBA would be awarding the Heat a compensatory first-round pick in 2027, which would allow Miami to trade four first-round picks.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2026
Their most exciting decision — awarding Best Actress to Kathleen Chalfant for the MFL-ineligible Familiar Touch — won’t have any impact on the league, unfortunately, but Ethan Hawke picked up yet another valuable Best Actor win for his performance in Blue Moon.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 6 Jan. 2026
Grinnell College honored her by awarding her an honorary doctorate and naming a residence hall after her.
—Nick El Hajj, Des Moines Register, 5 Jan. 2026
The appellate court sided with Kolalou and upheld the verdict awarding her nearly $3 million.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 4 Jan. 2026
The agreement also confirms that the close of fiscal 2025 will not prevent the NIH from reviewing or awarding any applications.
—Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 30 Dec. 2025
The foundation has donated to various causes, from awarding over $2 million in scholarships for students attending HBCUs to donating $6 million to coronavirus relief in 2020.
—Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 29 Dec. 2025
In Friday’s decision, the jury also ruled in Retsel’s countersuit against NDN Collective that the group had acted as a nuisance in its protests against the hotel, awarding $812 to the company.
—Sarah Raza, Fortune, 21 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for awarding
Verb
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The Knicks are rewarding him, now more than ever, for his effort in the columns that don’t count points.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
27 Jan. 2026
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My consistent view here has been that a broader market is not necessarily a more stable or rewarding one in aggregate.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In the final days of his presidency, Joe Biden was similarly assailed for granting a broad pardon to his son Hunter for any offenses committed over the span of more than a decade—as well as for preemptively pardoning a swath of other members of his family and administration.—
Bernadette Meyler,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
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The planned authorization would mark a shift from Washington’s previous policy of granting individual, case-by-case exemptions to companies seeking to operate in Venezuela’s oil industry.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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One reason is a viral video that shows Pretti standing over the body of a veteran who died and honoring his service.—
Susan-Elizabeth Littlefield,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
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But that's not all − quarters honoring national heroes from the abolitionist, suffragette and civil rights eras have been scrapped and will be replaced by those celebrating the nation's early White pioneers and revolutionaries.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The neighborhood/area Mount Etna’s dark mass looms over Zash and the surrounding area, conferring special energy and fertile soil where olive groves, fruit trees, and more exotic cacti and banana trees vie for space.—
Rosalyn Wikeley,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Jan. 2026
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Sitting with Cucinelli is like conferring with a living history book.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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On Sunday night and into Monday, BAM’s X feed spilled over with reposts commending the account for its largely correct forecasts.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
28 Jan. 2026
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Comments on both videos range from commending this brilliant idea to admitting to leaving the anchor in and patching over it.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Awarding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/awarding. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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