as in amused
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in regaled
to cause (someone) to pass the time agreeably occupied
entertain the kids while I go and prepare dinner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pondered
to give serious and careful thought to
have you ever entertained the thought that you could be wrong?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in had
to keep in one's mind or heart
I don't entertain the hope of ever getting a girl like that to go out with me
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of entertained
Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 26 Nov. 2025
Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
United has long entertained the prospect of buying JetBlue, but remains disciplined on price, according to people familiar with the matter.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 25 Mar. 2026
The veteran reliever entertained offers from other contenders, but his first choice was rejoining the Braves.
—Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Stay entertained with tennis, Zumba, and dance contests, while nearby cenotes, snorkeling, and the world’s second-largest coral reef add to the excitement.
—Sheryl Nance Nash, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
Toss one in your bag for a long road trip, pull it out during a restaurant wait or keep the kids entertained on a flight -- no Wi-Fi or screen needed.
—ABC News, 24 Mar. 2026
Paradise Cove entertained thousands of guests and employed generations of locals over the decades.
—Shane O’Neill, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2026
Welcome back to The Daily’s Sunday culture edition, in which one Atlantic writer or editor reveals what’s keeping them entertained.
—Josh Tyrangiel, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2026
Onassis enlisted high society decorator Sister Parish to design the interiors, creating an elegant yet comfortable setting where the young political power couple entertained Washington insiders and journalists.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Tech Accessory Organizer Untangling a ball of cords can kill time on a long travel day, but there are far better ways to stay entertained.
—Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 26 Nov. 2025
Verb
Fans are entitled to want to be entertained, and to be frustrated that the European campaign has been a struggle, as well as by the problems Palace have endured when confronted by 10 men on several occasions of late.
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
United has long entertained the prospect of buying JetBlue, but remains disciplined on price, according to people familiar with the matter.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 25 Mar. 2026
The veteran reliever entertained offers from other contenders, but his first choice was rejoining the Braves.
—Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Stay entertained with tennis, Zumba, and dance contests, while nearby cenotes, snorkeling, and the world’s second-largest coral reef add to the excitement.
—Sheryl Nance Nash, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
Toss one in your bag for a long road trip, pull it out during a restaurant wait or keep the kids entertained on a flight -- no Wi-Fi or screen needed.
—ABC News, 24 Mar. 2026
Paradise Cove entertained thousands of guests and employed generations of locals over the decades.
—Shane O’Neill, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2026
Welcome back to The Daily’s Sunday culture edition, in which one Atlantic writer or editor reveals what’s keeping them entertained.
—Josh Tyrangiel, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2026
Onassis enlisted high society decorator Sister Parish to design the interiors, creating an elegant yet comfortable setting where the young political power couple entertained Washington insiders and journalists.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for entertained
Adjective
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But British reviewers were not so amused – and several were not afraid to find fault with the UK version of the long-running US show.—
Chas Newkey-Burden,
TheWeek,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Shawkat, with her warm, amused eyes and her mop of curls, is a perfect carrier for Mae’s air of abjection, flopping around her bed like a horny, gloomy Raggedy Ann.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Nash’s Santa Clara teams had that under coach Dick Davey, whose lessons in mental toughness were regaled in Nash’s Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement speech.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
18 Mar. 2026
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Keenan had the hookup with both Cambridge’s flourishing party scene and a handful of small-time regional pot dealers, who regaled the pair with tales of running weed in pickup trucks over the Mexican border.—
Jack Crosbie,
Rolling Stone,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Someone who has pondered such niceties is Richard Posner, a former circuit judge and a prolific legal scholar.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Lisa Nelson, executive director of the Hamline-Midway Coalition, said her board members pondered that question at length.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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When the first reconciliation bill passed, Republicans had a three-seat majority.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Mar. 2026
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Charlotte had 22 treys after three quarters, but pulled all the starters in the fourth quarter and slowed down a little, finishing with 26 treys to tie an all-time team record.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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When your capillaries expand, the surrounding nerves become stimulated and send messages to the brain, which reads the sensation as itching.—
Fara Rosenzweig,
Outside,
24 Jan. 2026
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That may present the challenge of not allowing people to imagine the scene for themselves which, in our over stimulated era, might be seen as spoon-feeding our imagination.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Under the Affordable Care Act, dental care is considered an essential health benefit for children, so health insurance plans on the individual marketplace must offer dental coverage for those 18 or younger.—
Blake Farmer,
Miami Herald,
24 Mar. 2026
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The White House had considered putting the statue on the South Lawn, The Washington Post reported in February.—
Dan Diamond,
Arkansas Online,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The rapper, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, has been held at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center since he was arrested in September 2024.—
Daniel S. Levine,
People.com,
6 Aug. 2025
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That means every state budget could be held hostage until the whims of a small fraction of legislators is satisfied.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Horvath previously contemplated a challenge against Bass but ultimately decided to run for reelection for a second term representing the Third Supervisorial District, which stretches from the Ventura County line to Santa Monica, and Hollywood to Sylmar and San Fernando.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
20 Mar. 2026
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In the fall, the board contemplated using money from its Grand Victoria Riverboat Fund to pay for a similar commemorative garden project.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Entertained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/entertained. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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