OBTAINED Synonyms: 53 Similar and Opposite Words

obtained

verb

past tense of obtain

as in earned

to receive as return for effort after years of proving herself, she obtained recognition as a serious journalist

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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 obtained Brian Hickerson, Panettiere's on-again, off-again boyfriend, and his brother Zach Hickerson were present at the scene of her death, according to a police report previously obtained by ABC News. — ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026 Thakur obtained a restraining order in May, according to the sheriff’s office. — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026 The Miami Herald obtained a list within the first two weeks of over 700 detainees sent there or scheduled to be sent there. — Claire Healy, Miami Herald, 14 Sep. 2026 According to a police report obtained by NBC News, Brian showed police a bag of prescription pills that Panettiere was allegedly taking at the time of her death. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 14 Sep. 2026 During that time, the firm conducted 73 interviews with 60 people and reviewed more than 200,000 pages of documents obtained from individuals and organizations. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 14 Sep. 2026 The club’s 2025-26 accounts, due to be approved by members on September 19, but already obtained by The Athletic, add another chapter to the canon. — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026 Two men had entered an apartment on North Sharon Amity Road and robbed the occupants, according to a police affidavit obtained by the Charlotte Observer. — Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2026 The offending quote, which NBC News obtained by using The Wayback Machine internet archive, was published by The Jerusalem Post on Saturday. — Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 9 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for obtained

Verb

No one is questioning that Davion Mitchell has earned and is capable of holding a spot in the Heat’s rotation.

— Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2026
After attending Bucharest’s Academy of Theatrical Arts and Cinematography, she was accepted into NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, then later earned a master’s degree from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.

— Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of earned

Verb

Community members brought knowledge and experiences to the table that researchers could not have gained at a distance.

— Caroline Montojo, STAT, 14 Sep. 2026
The 61-year-old—who owns 40% of his tech company—has gained around $122 billion since this time in 2025, nearly doubling his wealth to a whopping $262 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

— Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of gained

Verb

Ukraine is urgently trying to improve its air defenses as Russia's invasion stretches into its fifth year, and on Thursday won pledges of more support from Canada.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2026
Banks ,who won a Best Melodic Rap Performance Grammy in 2024, was found not guilty of conspiracy, stalking using a dangerous weapon, stalking resulting in death, and two counts involving murder-for-hire.

— Bethy Squires, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2026

Definition of won

Verb

All three are allegedly part of Ghost Town, a notorious gang from West Oakland that made headlines last year for a brazen high-end robbery spree that reaped hundreds of thousands of dollars and left victims traumatized, according to court records.

— Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 2 Sep. 2026
The company reaped about $900 million with its initial public offering.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of reaped

Verb

But with backup quarterback Drew Lock in the game, Seattle made only a half-hearted attempt at moving the ball downfield, and instead the second quarter ended with a whimper.

— Andrew Greif, NBC news, 10 Sep. 2026
The text is written on parchment made from sheep, fleeced, their hides soaked in lime, stretched and dried.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of made

Verb

But Jon Hamm, strolling up to present the next award, got the better joke in.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2026
Maresca’s players followed soon after; Iliman Ndiaye, an inspired half-time substitute, was hanging around at the back of the group when Ruben Dias grabbed him and thrust him to the front, ensuring the new signing got a deserved ovation.

— Sam Lee, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of got

Verb

In this new culture, freedom was attained not through engagement in political struggle but through individual consumer choices.

— Robert Rubsam, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2026
The Tennessee singer-songwriter, actor, and philanthropist hailed from a vanishing class, a 20th-century monocultural phenomenon who attained a household-name status that never lost its luster.

— Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of attained

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obtainable

obtained

obtaining

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“Obtained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obtained. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of obtained

verb

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