EARN Synonyms: 58 Similar and Opposite Words

earn

verb

ˈərn

Definition of earn

as in to win

to receive as return for effort during my teen years I earned pocket money by mowing lawns

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to deserve

to be or make worthy of (as a reward or punishment) you've earned the afternoon off after all that hard work

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 earn Leonard Hankerson has earned his autonomy with the receivers, and there isn’t a human alive who can tell running backs coach Bobby Turner how to do his job. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 25 July 2026 Hollowell earned this first save with the Cubs in Friday’s 3-2 win in 10 innings. — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2026 Jimmie Vaughan & The Tilt-A-Whirl Band kicked the evening off in style, followed by the legendary Lucinda Williams who earned a standing ovation. — Raj Tawney, New York Daily News, 25 July 2026 The Pride earned a penalty in the 42nd minute after Haley McCutcheon was brought down in the box, but Atkinson saved Marta’s penalty shot. — Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for earn

Recent Examples of Synonyms for earn

Verb

Seoul — The AI gold rush is minting new fortunes, but the ex-wife of one of South Korea’s biggest tech titans has failed to win a greater share of his wealth as his company’s stock price has soared.

— Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 24 July 2026
In a career that ended in 2023, Harvick won 60 NASCAR Cup Series races, including the 2007 Daytona 500, three wins in the Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2003, 2019, and 2020, and the 2014 NASCAR Cup Series Championship.

— Bruce Martin, Forbes.com, 24 July 2026

Definition of win

Verb

Namely stage 13 when the race split into pieces, Tom Pidcock climbed back up the GC, Pedersen had to make a desperate attempt to reach Philipsen up the road to defend green, and the excellent Mauro Schmid got the victory his talent deserves.

— Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 27 July 2026
With last week’s OpenAI incident evoking troubling scenes straight out of the most dystopian sci-fi novels, the tools, which are currently in preview mode, deserve a healthy dose of caution that Microsoft made no mention of.

— Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 27 July 2026

Definition of deserve

Verb

Her office told me the bill essentially unlocks federal funds to help more neighborhoods gain protection from noise pollution.

— Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 26 July 2026
Related movements like slowmaxxing, which encourages a deliberate slowing of routines and meals, have gained traction as a response to productivity culture.

— Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 25 July 2026

Definition of gain

Verb

The already rich reap the most, though the thin spreading of payments means the payouts are relatively miserly for the game’s elite.

— Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 21 July 2026
Long-term value will be reaped by whomever controls the environments where AI operates rather than the models themselves.

— Francis Sideco, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026

Definition of reap

Verb

As of this week, the committee’s previous recommendation to revoke Eastside’s request for proposal to build the redevelopment had not garnered final approval by, or appeared on a meeting agenda of, the Unified Government Board of Commissioners.

— Sofi Zeman July 30, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026
Philippine officials credit the transparency strategy with garnering international support for the Philippines and strengthening its military alliances.

— Jill Goldenziel, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026

Definition of garner

Verb

Purchases allegedly made by Burke under aliases also included cadaver bags, heavy-duty laundry bags, chain saws, a shovel and a fireproof mat, Byers testified.

— Madeline Morrison, NBC news, 22 July 2026
At least eight more games will be added to Sunderland’s calendar when UEFA’s draw is made in Nyon on August 28.

— Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 22 July 2026

Definition of make

Verb

Rather than mixing in lime to obtain magnesium hydroxide, PNNL flows seawater alongside (side-by-side) a base, such as sodium hydroxide, in a co-flow reactor.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 27 July 2026
But the Spokane Airport Board also agreed to a $1,000 a month car allowance and a $50,000 relocation allowance, according to an agreement obtained via a records request.

— Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 26 July 2026

Definition of obtain

Verb

When Marshall showed up, Reyes and Chamberlain both fired guns at Marshall as Marshall tried to get away, according to the affidavit.

— Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 July 2026
The idea is that the more of the filter feeders cling to the seawall, the cleaner the canal gets.

— Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026

Definition of get

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earmarks

earn

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Style

“Earn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/earn. Accessed 30 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of earn

verb

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