as in lucrative
yielding a profit
graduated from school and went looking for gainful employment
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gainful
At her age, being prickly was neither enchanting nor gainful.
—
Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 15 June 2025
Additionally, the bill would repeal regulations for schools like the gainful employment rule, which requires institutions to demonstrate their educational offerings are sufficient to help students land well-paying jobs.
—Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 2 June 2025
Yesterday’s pangrams were gainful, unfailing and unflagging.
—Julia Jacobs, New York Times, 19 May 2025
Her husband takes a stab at gainful employment with a food delivery service but quits because the wealthier class of Singaporean customers prove fussy and prone to complaining.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for gainful
Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 15 June 2025
Additionally, the bill would repeal regulations for schools like the gainful employment rule, which requires institutions to demonstrate their educational offerings are sufficient to help students land well-paying jobs.
—Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 2 June 2025
Yesterday’s pangrams were gainful, unfailing and unflagging.
—Julia Jacobs, New York Times, 19 May 2025
Her husband takes a stab at gainful employment with a food delivery service but quits because the wealthier class of Singaporean customers prove fussy and prone to complaining.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for gainful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gainful
Adjective
-
K-pop remains a hugely lucrative business.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
2 May 2026
-
This Andrew Lloyd Webber juggernaut, which launched a wave of British mega-musicals in the 1980s, had a long and lucrative reign.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
The low-cost carrier, which has struggled to remain profitable since the emergence of COVID-19, once operated hundreds of flights a day and employed some 17,000 people.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
2 May 2026
-
Airlines have been raising baggage fees, adding fuel surcharges, particularly on international award travel, and cutting less profitable routes, which reduces the number of available seats.—
Mirna Alsharif,
NBC news,
2 May 2026
Adjective
-
This is nonetheless a worthwhile exercise to take stock of the potential class.—
Daniel Popper,
New York Times,
6 May 2026
-
However, this worthwhile endeavor isn't without expense, and the initial cost is certainly something to consider.—
Samantha Johnson,
Martha Stewart,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gainful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gainful. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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