earned

verb

past tense of earn
1
as in won
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
2
as in deserved
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 earned Luca Guadagnino‘s tech tale, which follows the five-day period in 2023 when Altman was fired and then rehired, earned rave reviews after its world premiere at New York Film Festival last week. — Alex Ritman, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026 But the respect the band had earned from the country firmament felt, at best, grudging. — Shaad D’souza, Pitchfork, 11 Oct. 2026 Over the years, Sophie has earned a reputation as one of the royal family's most dedicated and reliable members. — Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026 The 38-year-old quarterback has thrown six interceptions and hasn’t played at the same level that earned him league MVP honors last season. — Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026 With 58,000 units earned, and 50,000 copies sold, Rubber Soul lands the band its best week by units and pure sales in seven years. — Keith Caulfield, Billboard, 11 Oct. 2026 This is Robb Report’s 50th-anniversary issue, and any publication still going strong after five decades has earned the right to indulge in a bit of nostalgia. — John Vorwald, Robb Report, 11 Oct. 2026 Community supporter and legal advocate Over decades in South Florida, Klock earned a reputation as a formidable advocate, a mentor to younger lawyers and a steadfast supporter of the community. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 11 Oct. 2026 Romero earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees from California State University, Long Beach, in addition to her doctorate from UC Riverside. — Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for earned
  1. won
  2. deserved
  3. gained
  4. garnered
  5. reaped
  6. obtained
  7. made
  8. got
Verb
  • The production won the Tony Award for special theatrical event.
    — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The 27-year-old Poncelet won the Downhill Skateboarding World Championships in 2022 and 2023 and has been chasing the world record for years.
    — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of won
Verb
  • Which would entail the young girl acceding to a reality in which women sometimes deserved to be tortured to death.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Thunberg, who rose to fame as a teenage protester against climate change but has since broadened her activism, said the French pupils deserved wider support.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of deserved
Verb
  • The reactionary spirit of mobsters was particularly useful to the authorities when left-wing politics gained steam in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution.
    — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
  • First Solar — Shares gained 2% after Truist upgraded the solar name to buy from hold.
    — Darla Mercado, CFP®,Paulina Likos, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of gained
Verb
  • Eisenberg’s film garnered considerable laughs — and applause — from the theater-going crowd at its starry NYFF screening that saw Eisenberg, the cast, producer Emma Stone and even Claire Danes in attendance.
    — Marlow Stern, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Her distinctive essays, prose and poetry, in which the ancient and modern live side-by-side, have garnered her critical acclaim.
    — Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of garnered
Verb
  • Ploughshare tortoises, which exist in the wild only in Madagascar, had once reaped six figures on the black market.
    — Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The duo’s Be Free Tour builds on their career-long, high-energy, pop/classical mashup, which has reaped five albums, two Grammy nominations and a regular slate of 200 shows a year, including performances for over 100,000 students.
    — Greg Carannante, Sun Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of reaped
Verb
  • Prosecutors say that a company secretly controlled by Pulido obtained a 2016 government contract to supply 10 million food boxes at $34 each, generating approximately $340 million in revenue.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2026
  • In a 2023 memorandum obtained by Fox News Digital, Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield, who was then serving as the city council president, said residents complained about rodent infestations during a community meeting.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of obtained
Verb
  • Since its founding, Storyteller has made flexible vans with outdoor accoutrements front of mind, building out versatile multi-use spaces for strapping in large cargo during the ride before rearranging into a bedroom/workshop once there.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2026
  • After stepping into a bigger role with most of the Heat’s rotation regulars out and impressing in Saturday night’s preseason loss to the Timberwolves, Conwell again made some positive plays on Wednesday.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of made
Verb
  • Not long after, Singh got an email from someone named Oppenheim.
    — Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 12 Oct. 2026
  • One of them got his start with money borrowed from his sister’s brothel.
    — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of got

Browse Nearby Words

earn
earned
earnest
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Cite this Entry

“Earned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/earned. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

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