pawn 1 of 3

Definition of pawnnext
as in tool
one that is or can be used to further the purposes of another though he liked to play up his influence with city hall, he was really just another pawn of the political bosses

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pawn

2 of 3

noun (2)

as in pledge
something given or held to assure that the giver will keep a promise offered her license as a pawn that she would bring back the rental canoe

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pawn

3 of 3

verb

as in to deposit
to leave as a guarantee of repayment of a loan he pawned his antique watch in order to pay off his gambling debt

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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 pawn
Noun
No child should be used as a political pawn. Mercury News Editorial Board, Mercury News, 27 May 2026 Pawn Shop Set inside the former Collateral pawn shop on Melrose, this summer opening reimagines a longtime family run neighborhood fixture as a 7,800-square-foot sports-viewing hub. Kaila Yu, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
Verb
Testimony established that Garcia pawned the rings at a Cash America Pawn Shop and received $300. Gabriella Ybarra, San Antonio Express-News, 26 Mar. 2026 Others pawned jewelry to help pay their bills. Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pawn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pawn
Noun
  • The awards and their accompanying speeches are the best promotional tools potential winners have in their arsenal, especially in an era when Broadway economics have gotten crazier by the year.
    Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 8 June 2026
  • The tool, which uses artificial intelligence, could be deployed at airports to bolster wildlife enforcement efforts, the researchers say.
    Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 7 June 2026
Noun
  • The first was ‘Abrazados por el futbol‘ (Embraced by futbol), an anti-discrimination pledge that had Mexico stars Rafael Marquez, Javier Hernandez and Andres Guardado as early signatories.
    Jack Lang, New York Times, 11 June 2026
  • The pledge was ultimately enough to quell GOP anxieties about the fund, and days later, despite hours of handwringing from a handful of Republicans, the Senate approved the package in a 52 to 47 vote.
    Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 10 June 2026
Verb
  • The fine will be deposited into the state’s general fund and can be paid using campaign dollars.
    Grace Hase, Mercury News, 12 June 2026
  • In simple terms, not every dollar deposited is actually available to spend.
    Michael Shribman, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Noun
  • The castle is the heart of Eternia and houses a great power — one that must be protected from Skeletor and his minions.
    Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 6 June 2026
  • The evil force of Skeletor (Jared Leto), a bad bad man with no face, brings his minions in and sets off non-stop destruction.
    Pete Hammond, Deadline, 2 June 2026
Noun
  • When installed correctly, with the proper slope, however, many models offer some protection from drizzles or light showers, but this isn’t a guarantee.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 10 June 2026
  • First, trust needs to come through technical guarantees rather than geographic restrictions.
    Leonard Lim, Fortune, 10 June 2026
Verb
  • One borrower who manages a large hedge fund hocked his wife’s eight-carat diamond ring—worth upwards of $600,000—after receiving a large margin call (the loan was eventually repaid and the ring was returned.
    Sergei Klebnikov, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2026
  • The page gave a deep snort, hocking a chartreuse wad against the root of the nightingale’s birch.
    Hazlitt, Hazlitt, 19 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Midland Memorial Hospital received nine of the victims connected to the active shooter incident.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 13 June 2026
  • The pope also met abuse survivors privately and urged Spain’s bishops to listen to victims and make reparations.
    Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 13 June 2026
Noun
  • Instead, the agreement envisions the establishment of maritime security by coastal countries in the region.
    Bart Jansen, USA Today, 13 June 2026
  • In its statement on Friday, Anthropic said the government did not provide specific details about its national security concern.
    Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 13 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Pawn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pawn. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.

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