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

The history of socialism has taught us that the real victims are average people — the working person who struggles to make ends meet. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 1 Aug. 2026

However, consumers dipped into their savings to make ends meet. — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 30 July 2026

Fishing fleets often rely on a few key species to make ends meet, said Sunny Jardine, a resource and environmental economist at the University of Washington. — Susanne Rust follow, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026

Many people who are on TV or are heads of corporations at one time waited tables, slept in cars or worked more than one job to make ends meet. — Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 27 July 2026