OBTAINING Synonyms: 53 Similar and Opposite Words

obtaining

verb

present participle of obtain

as in earning

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

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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 obtaining One limitation of obtaining court orders against counterfeiters is the difficulty of enforcing them in foreign jurisdictions. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 5 Oct. 2026 Caputo said the idea for the citizenship-for-investment program emerged during Milei's July 2024 visit to Sun Valley, Idaho, when tech executives expressed interest in obtaining Argentine citizenship. — Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026 Some Arizona executions had snags When Strada was in Arizona, that state in 2022 resumed executions after a nearly eight-year break, following criticism about an execution that took about two hours as well as difficulties obtaining certain drugs. — Ed White, Chicago Tribune, 3 Oct. 2026 The team also used deep-core drilling at the site for the first time, reaching depths of 20 meters, or more than 60 feet, in some locations — and obtaining samples from within the formation that were sent for lab analysis. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026 Caputo said the idea for the citizenship-for-investment program emerged during Milei’s July 2024 visit to Sun Valley, Idaho, when tech executives expressed interest in obtaining Argentine citizenship. — Isabel Debre, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026 Giuffra said Cornell Health failed to act during a critical window for obtaining evidence. — Jason Carroll, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026 This can lead to difficulty obtaining financing, adding new products or services, hiring additional employees or expanding into other states or regions. — Nellie Akalp, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026 Prosecutors say Rivera and his former wife transferred their interest to his sister without obtaining that permission. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 29 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for obtaining

Verb

Each of the company’s more than 20 brands is distributed in North America, with many earning the top spot in key categories.

— Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
Solo dining is climbing, and small indulgences keep earning space in budgets even when the big-ticket splurges get cut.

— Ashley Lynch, Kansas City Star, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of earning

Verb

Ruerup quickly rose through the ranks at Oxxford, gaining experience with everything from product and design to marketing and technology.

— Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026
Stream, a strategic partner for Talpa Studios, focused on creating formats for the streaming generation, has developed several other titles that are gaining traction in the market.

— Leo Barraclough, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of gaining

Verb

Initially, 18 full-size models were built during an internal competition called Project Renaissance, from which the winning design was selected.

— Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 7 Oct. 2026
From Big Talk Studios, the International Emmy Award-winning detective drama, starring David Mitchell and Anna Maxwell Martin, follows a genius puzzle setter navigating life as a police consultant.

— Leo Barraclough, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of winning

Verb

Crafting the ‘nudge’ As an undergraduate at Carnegie Mellon University, Carleton spent two summers working in a Johns Hopkins prostate cancer lab and was surprised to see surgeons making a point to attend the department’s journal club.

— Allessandra DiCorato, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026
If the waiver is granted, callers would still be limited by certain conditions, including allowing consumers to opt out and making no more than three calls within 30 days to each individual recipient.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of making

Verb

The provocations are garnering Hilton plenty of attention though probably not winning him very many new votes.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
Shockingly, Leigh himself has never been nominated at the Globes for either directing or screenwriting, despite garnering seven Oscar noms throughout his career.

— Clayton Davis, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of garnering

Verb

Spirit’s efforts to sell tranches of data to Google for $10 million hit several speed bumps after getting public attention in August.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2026
Eaton, in conjunction with developer Sue Powers’ Urban Ventures, plans to renovate the building and reduce its unit count from 62 to 50, with each unit getting its own bathroom for the first time.

— Thomas Gounley, Denver Post, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of getting

Verb

This older world is often focused on common American ideals of individualism and grit as the primary tools for attaining personal success.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026
In other words, what happens when their agreeable or polite approach to attaining something doesn’t work?

— Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of attaining

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obtained

obtaining

obtainment

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“Obtaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obtaining. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of obtaining

verb

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