PAWNS Synonyms: 43 Similar and Opposite Words

pawns 1 of 3

noun (1)

plural of pawn

as in tools

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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pawns

2 of 3

noun (2)

plural of pawn

as in pledges

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

pawns

3 of 3

verb

present tense third-person singular of pawn

as in mortgages

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 pawns

Noun

Gulf governments, meanwhile, have dabbled abroad as well, while trying to address grievances among their own Shia populations to prevent them from becoming pawns of Tehran. — Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 15 June 2026 The organization is treating these athletes as political pawns instead of as young people with their own families, goals, futures and careers to think about. — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2026 Making the lives of Idahoans affordable, fixing healthcare, helping farmers produce affordable food and still make a living, saving our public lands and national forest for future generations, and making sure vets, servicemen and women and seniors are not used as pawns in political games. — Kevin Fixler may 3, Idaho Statesman, 3 May 2026 Most people don’t think children should be pawns in any politician’s culture war. — Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026 Most people don’t think children should be pawns in any politician’s culture war. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026 The costume is meant to reflect the pawns in a game of chess. — Olivia Wakim, AJC.com, 23 Apr. 2026 According to The Guardian, three military family advocacy organizations reported that the Marines felt like political pawns. — Chris John Amorosino, Hartford Courant, 16 Apr. 2026 But, in the slammers investigation, nearly all the people being prosecuted were pawns—passengers who’d agreed to ride in cars. — Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pawns

Noun

While Wyscout is the industry leader for video scouting tools in football, Eyeball has, since forming in 2020, established itself as the youth football equivalent across the globe.

— Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 22 July 2026
In biology, for example, AI has compressed years of scientific labor into tools that can be shared across the world.

— Belonging Forum, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

Definition of tools

Noun

With a general election no more than three years away, Burnham will need to start implementing some of his pledges, many of which are based on long-term thinking, as quickly as possible.

— Reuters, NBC news, 17 July 2026
Former state Comptroller Bill Curry and former New Haven Mayor John DeStefano, both Democrats, built their gubernatorial campaigns between 1998 and 2006 on pledges to raise income taxes on Connecticut’s wealthy and increase municipal aid.

— Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 17 July 2026

Definition of pledges

Verb

So my guess/belief/thought is that the executive trio is hoping for the best this year, but is unwilling to do anything that mortgages future seasons.

— Josh Kendall, New York Times, 9 July 2026
Those are the players in recent memory who’ve commanded the kind of draft capital that reshapes franchises — the sort of seismic move that mortgages a future and, in return, attaches expectations normally reserved for franchise-carrying superstars.

— Kristian Winfield, Hartford Courant, 22 Feb. 2026

Definition of mortgages

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 minions

Noun

Court filings indicate the company’s financial strain was driven by lease guarantees on closed locations across the country, including Concord Mills.

— Catherine Muccigrosso July 14, Charlotte Observer, 14 July 2026
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

Definition of guarantees

Noun

The Cyclops is not a digital monster but a combination of animatronics, puppets, and computer graphics, brought to life by the performance of Bill Irwin, the same actor who gave voice and form to the robot in Interstellar.

— Valentina Colosimo, Vanity Fair, 14 July 2026
This Franco-Swiss film from director Claude Barras deploys tenderly expressive puppets to tell the story of a boy placed in an orphanage after inadvertently killing his alcoholic mother.

— Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 1 July 2026

Definition of puppets

Noun

China's securities regulator this year tightened the screw on mainland investors channeling money into overseas stocks, as part of a broader push to keep capital outflows in official channels that give Beijing more visibility and control.

— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 16 July 2026
Some argue that nearly centuries-old securities laws already cover what crypto needs, or even claim that the industry would prefer to have no regulation at all.

— Patrick McHenry, Fortune, 16 July 2026

Definition of securities

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“Pawns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pawns. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of pawns

noun (1)

noun (2)

verb

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