medal

noun

ˈme-dᵊl How to pronounce medal (audio)
Definition of medalnext
as in decoration
a piece of metal given in honor of a special event, a person, or an achievement the display case held an impressive array of military medals from World War II

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 medal Their present assignment is not combat service, and none claimed that winning a medal was equivalent to carrying out a military mission. — Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 14 Aug. 2026 Mirra hosted two seasons of The Challenge and earned dozens of BMX medals at the X Games throughout his career. — Emma Banks, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026 That reflected a new policy going forward with tangible rippling benefits, including that one of the players from that 1996 team, Dawn Staley, went on to become one of the nation’s top coaches and led the gold-medal winning 2020 Olympic team. — Kansas City Star, 13 Aug. 2026 In 2010, the Institute of Jamaica awarded him the Silver Musgrave medal for his contributions to Literature and in 2018 he was awarded the Anthony Sabga medal for Arts & Letters. — Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for medal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for medal
  1. decoration
  2. insignia
  3. trophy
  4. medallion
Noun
  • The decorations actually carry years of family memories, which makes deciding what stays especially personal.
    — Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Animated figures and other Christmas decorations that don’t work may still make a great display piece for someone.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of decoration
Noun
  • Competitive admission to the academy, rank insignia on every uniform, exactly one captain per ship.
    — Gautam Mukunda, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Other insignias were created for lower ranks—some rendered in silver, others in gold—but in the decade following the American Civil War, the current color scheme had become largely fixed.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of insignia
Noun
  • With their victory, Cameroon became just the fourth nation to lift the WAFCON trophy since 1998 and the third to win both the men’s and women’s Africa Cup of Nations (alongside Nigeria and South Africa).
    — Emily Olsen, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The 41-year-old is widely considered one of the best players in history, winning five Ballon d’Or awards in addition to a host of major trophies and record-breaking achievements.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of trophy
Noun
  • Sun Devil Necklace A reversible medallion in gold or silver that flips from pitchfork to ASU, because school spirit should work both ways.
    — Trisha Easto, AZCentral.com, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The first offerings will include pieces inspired by Byzantine artworks including imperial medallions, architectural ornaments, and statuary.
    — Andy Battaglia, ARTnews.com, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of medallion

Browse Nearby Words

mechanizing
medal
medalist
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Cite this Entry

“Medal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/medal. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on medal

Nglish: Translation of medal for Spanish Speakers

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