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

Many middle-class families earn too much to qualify for government assistance but still struggle to make ends meet. — Kaysia Earley, Sun Sentinel, 9 July 2026

Trump taking the country to war with Iran, in part at the urging of his pal Bibi — without any sensible plan, debate, sanction from Congress or consideration as to how this might hurt Americans already struggling to make ends meet. — Maureen Dowd, Mercury News, 4 July 2026

Currently, nearly 50 percent of working-age households are struggling to make ends meet. — Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026

Abraham died when Brooks was only 2, leaving his brothers to help raise Mel and make ends meet in the household. — Alex Apatoff, PEOPLE, 28 June 2026