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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pawns
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
The play unfolds as a series of battles, where the unaccomplished George and the bitterly disappointed Martha exchange vicious and demeaning insults, using Nick and Honey as the unsuspecting pawns in their war for supremacy.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
They were treated like pawns in a JEA chess game, played and discarded.
—Mark Woods, Florida Times-Union, 20 Feb. 2026
During that period, NYC received 220,000 migrants — because the Republican governor of Texas wanted to cruelly use them as political pawns by sending them here.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 16 Feb. 2026
Government shutdowns are avoidable and harmful to families, workers, the economy and federal workers shouldn’t be pawns.
—Charlotte Observer, 5 Feb. 2026
Rhode Island activist Nicole Solas said adults shouldn't use students as pawns in political games.
—Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 3 Feb. 2026
Wembanyama’s Spurs moved the first few pawns.
—Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
For example, in the second game, Washington overlooked that one of their pawns was overworked defending two other pieces simultaneously, watched as Baltimore captured one of the pieces, and elected not to retaliate in order to continue defending a more valuable knight.
—IEEE Spectrum, 11 Dec. 2025
Noun
More like completely disrupting and undermining public education, using students as pawns to make a political statement.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
The play unfolds as a series of battles, where the unaccomplished George and the bitterly disappointed Martha exchange vicious and demeaning insults, using Nick and Honey as the unsuspecting pawns in their war for supremacy.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
They were treated like pawns in a JEA chess game, played and discarded.
—Mark Woods, Florida Times-Union, 20 Feb. 2026
During that period, NYC received 220,000 migrants — because the Republican governor of Texas wanted to cruelly use them as political pawns by sending them here.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 16 Feb. 2026
Government shutdowns are avoidable and harmful to families, workers, the economy and federal workers shouldn’t be pawns.
—Charlotte Observer, 5 Feb. 2026
Rhode Island activist Nicole Solas said adults shouldn't use students as pawns in political games.
—Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 3 Feb. 2026
Wembanyama’s Spurs moved the first few pawns.
—Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
For example, in the second game, Washington overlooked that one of their pawns was overworked defending two other pieces simultaneously, watched as Baltimore captured one of the pieces, and elected not to retaliate in order to continue defending a more valuable knight.
—IEEE Spectrum, 11 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pawns
Verb
-
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
Verb
-
An 18-minute flight in a Bell 212 deposits us into the high alpine.—
Jen Murphy,
Robb Report,
8 Mar. 2026
-
The agency deposits up to $1,000 in these accounts them if parents complete recommended preventive care before their babies turn two.—
Cathie Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pawns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pawns. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
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