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
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
Privatized airports avoided long shutdown waits Privatizing airport security, some in the business argue, makes airport workers and travelers less vulnerable to becoming pawns in congressional fights over policy issues.
—Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2026
Noun
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
Privatized airports avoided long shutdown waits Privatizing airport security, some in the business argue, makes airport workers and travelers less vulnerable to becoming pawns in congressional fights over policy issues.
—Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pawns
Noun
-
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.—
Ryan Brennan
June 2,
Sacbee.com,
3 June 2026
-
Catch up on Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance, tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.—
Kelsey Neubauer,
CNBC,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
After picking up seven commitments through the afternoon, the U gained two more pledges to wrap up its Summer Splash official visit weekend.—
Andy Greder,
Twin Cities,
1 June 2026
-
The organizations that will navigate this moment well are not those with the most ambitious pledges or the longest sustainability reports.—
Anjali Chaudhry,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
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
Noun
-
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
-
Aniello, who directed both bookend episodes, replicates her own long, dynamic shot from the series premiere, which tracks Deborah from the closing joke of her zillionth Vegas set, through a backstage warren of minions and admirers, to her dressing room.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
The 49ers then voided the guarantees in Aiyuk’s contact last summer, which Aiyuk elected not to fight with a grievance through the NFL Players Association.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
3 June 2026
-
Supporters said the additional revenue would help fund city services, while opponents argued the increase could hurt tourism and hospitality businesses and provide no guarantees about how the money would ultimately be spent.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
After a storm, the ocean deposits fresh treasures along the shoreline, and during a full moon, stronger currents and lower tides can reveal hidden shells that were once out of reach.—
Gabi De la Rosa,
Southern Living,
17 May 2026
-
The Interceptor sucks in trash and deposits it in large bins that, once full, are shipped off for appropriate disposal—and in an interesting twist, an afterlife as material for new car production.—
Scotty Reiss,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
The animals, including Rosie the elephant, a lion named Rex, an orangutan named Agnes and a dog named Queenie, are portrayed either with puppets or with circus performers wearing elaborate costumes.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
4 June 2026
-
The Zoo will offer special entertainment programming such as concerts, dance competitions, trampoline shows, parades featuring life-size animal puppets and acrobats and interactive presentations on animals from around the world.—
Abby Hamblin,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Since the start of the year, the sell-off by foreign investors in Indian securities has intensified, particularly in stocks.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
5 June 2026
-
That includes overturning a decades-old decision that had given regulators an advantage in court and stripping another agency of a major tool in fighting securities fraud.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pawns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pawns. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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