as in lucrative
yielding a profit
graduated from school and went looking for gainful employment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 gainful
At her age, being prickly was neither enchanting nor gainful.
—
Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 15 June 2025
The gainful employment rule is intended to help students avoid low-value programs that leave them with too much debt and minimal earning potential.
—Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 2 June 2025
Yesterday’s pangrams were gainful, unfailing and unflagging.
—Julia Jacobs, New York Times, 19 May 2025
Or workers could simply have given up on Martinsville and moved elsewhere in search of gainful employment.
—Gordon H. Hanson, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2021
See All Example Sentences for gainful
Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 15 June 2025
The gainful employment rule is intended to help students avoid low-value programs that leave them with too much debt and minimal earning potential.
—Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 2 June 2025
Yesterday’s pangrams were gainful, unfailing and unflagging.
—Julia Jacobs, New York Times, 19 May 2025
Or workers could simply have given up on Martinsville and moved elsewhere in search of gainful employment.
—Gordon H. Hanson, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2021
See All Example Sentences for gainful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gainful
Adjective
-
Competition remains fierce in the Charlotte region to grab a piece of the lucrative grocery market share.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Jan. 2026
-
One of his most lucrative fundraisers was associated with the New York City Marathon in November.—
Sean Krofssik,
Hartford Courant,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
In markets with many solar farms, this is when electricity prices are lowest, making the panels less profitable.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The deal wasn’t a grant but a standard, interest-rate mortgage, which city officials have described as profitable for the city and beneficial for businesses, providing economic development support aimed at stabilizing property-owning music venues in Austin.—
Mars Salazar,
Austin American Statesman,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
If the world of tiny houses is foreign to you, your mind may be flooded with questions about where to even start looking for a worthwhile option.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
13 Jan. 2026
-
While Morgan and Luke Kuechly have been mentoring the 2024 third-round pick, the Panthers probably need to upgrade over him with the top inside linebacker spot — or, at the very least, get some worthwhile insurance for his recovery from season-ending surgery.—
Mike Kaye
January 12,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gainful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gainful. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
