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
Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 3 Feb. 2026
In his addled mind, the millions of people in these cities who depend on federal funds for health, transit, education and whatever else are only pawns in a broader struggle to consolidate his own authority by any means necessary.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 15 Jan. 2026
Wembanyama’s Spurs moved the first few pawns.
—Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
Because these prices haven't come in, because the Chinese actually used our soybean farmers as pawns in the trade negotiations.
—CBS News, 7 Dec. 2025
The National Guard ⬆ For much of the past year, National Guard units have been pawns on a chessboard, taunted by protesters.
—Newsweek Editors, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
But this isn’t the Queen’s Gambit, and at 4 and 6, Bluey and Bingo aren’t interested in prawns (pawns), castle heads (rooks), or pom pom elves (bishops).
—Hannah Silverman, Parents, 15 Nov. 2025
These children are cannon fodder, dispensable pawns in someone else’s war.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2025
Where the film succeeds is in its depiction of John and Greta as pawns of larger societal forces.
—Sarah Weinman, Rolling Stone, 9 Nov. 2025
Noun
Rhode Island activist Nicole Solas said adults shouldn't use students as pawns in political games.
—Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 3 Feb. 2026
In his addled mind, the millions of people in these cities who depend on federal funds for health, transit, education and whatever else are only pawns in a broader struggle to consolidate his own authority by any means necessary.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 15 Jan. 2026
Wembanyama’s Spurs moved the first few pawns.
—Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
Because these prices haven't come in, because the Chinese actually used our soybean farmers as pawns in the trade negotiations.
—CBS News, 7 Dec. 2025
The National Guard ⬆ For much of the past year, National Guard units have been pawns on a chessboard, taunted by protesters.
—Newsweek Editors, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
But this isn’t the Queen’s Gambit, and at 4 and 6, Bluey and Bingo aren’t interested in prawns (pawns), castle heads (rooks), or pom pom elves (bishops).
—Hannah Silverman, Parents, 15 Nov. 2025
These children are cannon fodder, dispensable pawns in someone else’s war.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2025
Where the film succeeds is in its depiction of John and Greta as pawns of larger societal forces.
—Sarah Weinman, Rolling Stone, 9 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pawns
deposits
Verb
-
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
-
Because of the low reactivity of fluorine, when KL-50 deposits fluoroethyl groups onto the cells, the crosslinks are slow to form.—
Isabella Backman,
Hartford Courant,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pawns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pawns. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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