as in earns
to receive as return for effort
after years of proving herself, she obtained recognition as a serious journalist
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Recent Examples of obtains
When Social Security benefits are electronically deposited into a bank account, federal banking rules require banks and other financial institutions to protect a certain amount of those benefits if a creditor obtains a court order to levy the account.
—
Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 3 June 2026
Charges can elevate to a first-degree felony if parents don’t safely secure firearms, which the minor then obtains and uses to cause death or great bodily injury, which is punishable by up to three years, Bala said.
—Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 24 May 2026
If the wrong party obtains it, trust collapses.
—Pravir Malik, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Insight obtains its services through a national government purchasing cooperative, which uses Flock.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026
The number of championship rings a player obtains is dependent on teammates and coaching systems.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2026
An employer subject to a stop order must pay its employees for up to 10 days for time lost until the employer obtains insurance.
—Dan Eaton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2026
Whatever efficiency may be gained from using the tool could easily be undone in the event a threat actor obtains the keys to a network kingdom.
—Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 3 Apr. 2026
Trump has said his administration's goal is to ensure Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 3 June 2026
Charges can elevate to a first-degree felony if parents don’t safely secure firearms, which the minor then obtains and uses to cause death or great bodily injury, which is punishable by up to three years, Bala said.
—Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 24 May 2026
If the wrong party obtains it, trust collapses.
—Pravir Malik, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Insight obtains its services through a national government purchasing cooperative, which uses Flock.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026
The number of championship rings a player obtains is dependent on teammates and coaching systems.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2026
An employer subject to a stop order must pay its employees for up to 10 days for time lost until the employer obtains insurance.
—Dan Eaton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2026
Whatever efficiency may be gained from using the tool could easily be undone in the event a threat actor obtains the keys to a network kingdom.
—Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 3 Apr. 2026
Trump has said his administration's goal is to ensure Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obtains
Verb
-
For a system that increasingly decides who earns billions in market access, that is a strange thing to leave unwritten.—
Dara-Abasi Ita,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
-
No one earns their degree alone.—
Albert D. Mosley,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 June 2026
Verb
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Brendan Shanahan surely reaps the rewards for forever believing in Marner and the Core Four and continues as team president into the present.—
Jonas Siegel,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
-
However, an artist’s innate defiance reaps the best art.—
Heide Janssen,
Oc Register,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Anyone wins it, but not England.—
Mike Sullivan,
CBS News,
13 June 2026
-
Citation, ridden by Eddie Arcaro, wins the Belmont Stakes and the Triple Crown with an eight-length victory over Better Self.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
As Wembanyama garners worldwide attention, arriving right at Tatum and Silver’s New York doorstep in a moment that could change the sport, the NBA’s desire to expand hastens.—
Jared Weiss,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
-
Unless one candidate garners more than 50% of the votes to outright win the seat, the top two vote-getters will move on to the November general election ballot.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Cobolli automatically gains a spot in Sunday’s final against second-seeded Alexander Zverev of Germany, who defeated Jakub Menšík of the Czech Republic earlier on Friday.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
5 June 2026
-
Lukashenko gains bargaining power, and the West’s common position becomes harder to sustain.—
Tatsiana Kulakevich,
The Conversation,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
Kenny gets into two different arguments about this word.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
10 June 2026
-
Hugh Laurie gets diagnosis wrong again.—
Janelle Ash,
FOXNews.com,
10 June 2026
Verb
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That something so benign could wreak so much havoc against the backdrop of a place as humdrum as a corner restaurant is what makes the story (written by TZ mainstay Richard Matheson) so terrifying.—
Josh Weiss,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
-
Monday at noon, Atlanta makes its debut in the greatest sports tournament the world has to offer.—
Ken Sugiura,
AJC.com,
11 June 2026
Verb
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But offering multiple years to Powell wouldn’t be an issue if the Heat acquires Antetokounmpo because the Heat would have Antetokounmpo’s Bird Rights and could exceed the salary cap to sign him next summer or give him a max extension before that.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
9 June 2026
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In this iteration, the cylindrical bulk of Madison Square Garden acquires a certain classical nobility, wrapped in terra-cotta tiles that glitter through a corset of stone ribs.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obtains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obtains. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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