pawn 1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈpȯn How to pronounce pawn (audio)
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
The gang stole pricey items worth millions altogether, and Spilotro opened a pawn shop called the Gold Rush to fence the goods, the Mob Museum reported. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 23 June 2026 Like, that is his reality and everyone else is just kind of a small pawn in it. — K.j. Yossman, Variety, 19 June 2026
Verb
After being blackballed from the finance sector, Coop resorts to burglarizing the homes of those in his social circle and pawning the items to stay afloat. — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 1 Apr. 2026 Burglarizing the homes of those in his social circle and pawning the items just to stay afloat. — Ryan Brennan april 1, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pawn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pawn
  1. tool
  2. pledge
  3. deposit
  4. minion
  5. guarantee
  6. hock
  7. victim
  8. security
Noun
  • There are several other, safer ways law enforcement can prevent a vehicle from fleeing besides physically blocking its path, such as using spike strips and other tools that can deflate tires, the former chief said.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
  • This is a smart time to update a rate, ask for better tools, or stop absorbing costs that are not yours.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 18 July 2026
Definition of tool
Noun
  • Importantly, Trump’s announcement on Monday also contradicted pledges by some of his top officials not to charge tolls in the strait.
    — Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 14 July 2026
  • There's also an analog-style SIM Edition for driving control ($89 pledge, $149 retail), and a Creator Edition optimized for video editing, priced the same as the SIM Edition.
    — Shirl Leigh July 12, New Atlas, 12 July 2026
Definition of pledge
Verb
  • At least $290 million was deposited in its accounts at various financial institutions in the United States, including Bank of America, Citibank and JPMorgan Chase, a Herald analysis of banking records found.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026
  • But the value of these accounts was never only the dollars deposited.
    — Arellana Barela Levenson, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2026
Definition of deposit
Noun
  • This iconic live-action movie features NBA superstar Michael Jordan, who is recruited by Bugs Bunny and the Looney Tunes, the Tune Squad, for a high-stakes game against an evil theme park owner and his minions, the Monstars, in outer space.
    — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 14 July 2026
  • The rest of the Aquamarine team — including Cecilia’s minions, played by Tammin Sursok, Dichen Lachman and Natasha Cunningham — awaited in Australia.
    — Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 14 July 2026
Definition of minion
Noun
  • The agency provides a range of financing tools, including loans, equity investment, political risk insurance, loan guarantees and project development funding.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 13 July 2026
  • Having an American spouse was hardly a guarantee of financial solvency, a landlord told her, because couples separated by deportation frequently got divorced.
    — Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 13 July 2026
Definition of guarantee
Verb
  • The page gave a deep snort, hocking a chartreuse wad against the root of the nightingale’s birch.
    — Hazlitt, Hazlitt, 19 Nov. 2025
  • Shein is far from the first online retailer to run into trouble with third-party vendors hocking controversial wares or flouting policy standards.
    — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 3 Sep. 2025
Definition of hock
Noun
  • Brown’s wife was Bruneau’s best friend at the time of the victim’s death, and both women worked as flight attendants for Braniff Airlines, a Grapevine police detective wrote in an arrest warrant affidavit filed in June.
    — Amy McDaniel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 July 2026
  • Numerous victims have said that their names and other sensitive information were not properly redacted in the files and criticized Blanche and the department for failing to investigate Epstein’s potential co-conspirators.
    — Ben Wieder, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
Definition of victim
Noun
  • In September 2025 Israel struck Hamas negotiators in Doha despite Qatar's American security relationship.
    — Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
  • According to Us Weekly, the man has been identified as Keith Webster, 63, who allegedly drove his Subaru into a security gate on Wednesday.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 18 July 2026
Definition of security

Browse Nearby Words

pawky
pawn
pawned
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pawn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pawn. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pawn

Nglish: Translation of pawn for Spanish Speakers

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