Synonyms of make ends meet

make ends meet

phrase

as in cope

to meet one's day-to-day needs

The couple's income was just enough to make ends meet each month.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cope
• do
• get on
• survive
• make out
• manage
• get along
• make do
• get by
• make shift
• fare
• shift
• afford
• carry on
• fend for oneself
• eke out
• last
• scrape (by or through)
• contrive
• scrape (out)
• scrounge
• squeeze
• swing
• wring
• wrest

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fail
• fall short
• collapse
• flounder
• decline
• slump
• peter (out)
• give up
• wane
• fizzle

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of make ends meet

Jaime Jakubczak, a 68-year-old resident of Buffalo, New York who retired early at 55, has recently gone back to work to make ends meet, specifically to afford rising property taxes. — ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026

Working families and older individuals already struggling to make ends meet will be hit the hardest financially and will be forced to make life-or-death decisions. — Sanya Carley, Time, 7 Oct. 2026

Leo is a struggling actor who has to work as a grocery clerk to make ends meet while taking care of his disabled father. — Roberto Prieto, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026

Gerber said some of their friends were going through a difficult time, including one who was working at a Texas airport's bar trying to make ends meet for his family. — Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026