as in to use
to take unfair advantage of
unscrupulous people trying to milk the welfare system for all it's worth
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 milk
The Red Rocketeers were unable to score on the ensuing drive and the Warriors were able to milk the clock and finish the job from there.
—
Jack Murray, Boston Herald, 6 Dec. 2025
Just like her ex, Perry isn’t looking to milk the publicity out of her relationship with the politician.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 27 Oct. 2025
Haul a steaming cup outside where, milking fall weather, the Potholder is welcoming diners on its dog-friendly patio.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 23 Oct. 2025
When the Chiefs looked to milk the clock late in the game, the Chiefs got good push.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for milk
Jack Murray, Boston Herald, 6 Dec. 2025
Just like her ex, Perry isn’t looking to milk the publicity out of her relationship with the politician.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 27 Oct. 2025
Haul a steaming cup outside where, milking fall weather, the Potholder is welcoming diners on its dog-friendly patio.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 23 Oct. 2025
When the Chiefs looked to milk the clock late in the game, the Chiefs got good push.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for milk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for milk
Verb
-
On her birthday, Kate released the last of her Mother Nature videos on social media, using the platform to promote her message of being outside among wildlife and open spaces as a key to her wellbeing and recovery from her cancer treatment.—
Simon Perry,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Wearing rubber gloves, use a sponge to spread the mixture all over the bottom of the oven.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Outside the capital, guerrilla groups and organized crime syndicates are exploiting the power vacuum along Venezuela’s borders and in its resource-rich interior.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The final part of the dormancy evolution puzzle is what ecologists refer to as the ecological niche a species occupies — the specific set of conditions that species evolved to exploit or the conditions under which that species is likely to be more successful when compared to other species.—
Paul Cappiello,
Louisville Courier Journal,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
So long as a person is willing to subject himself to the abuse of the City, the City will find new and worse ways to abuse him.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Ohio State has previously settled filed by 296 individuals who alleged they were abused by Strauss, who died by suicide in 2005.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Weiser, who is running for governor in this year’s election, characterized the attacks as Trump trying to leverage the power of the executive branch to exercise unconstitutional authority over how individual states conduct elections and oversee their criminal justice systems.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
9 Jan. 2026
-
But a constant churn of financial maneuvers (spinning off Saks’ e-commerce, creating co-working spaces in underutilized stores, all while being highly leveraged) brought some benefit but never obviated the need to invest more in basics.—
Phil Wahba,
Fortune,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Harden understands the rules well as anyone to draw fouls (critics might argue manipulate the officials) to get to the line.—
Jason Jones,
New York Times,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Other charges accuse Yoon of manipulating the investigation into a marine’s drowning in 2023 and receiving free opinion surveys from an election broker in return for a political favor.—
Hyung-Jin Kim,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Those arrested during the operation include four men charged with pimping, pandering and violating a protective order, who face anywhere between six and 20 years in prison if convicted, according to the District Attorney’s Office.—
City News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Dec. 2025
-
Coleman pimped the first victim out to between 10 and 16 clients every day.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
10 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Milk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/milk. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
