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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of pawns
Grace Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 15 Oct. 2025
Remember the big picture, people, and stop using taxpayers as pawns, or worse yet, collateral damage.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 15 Oct. 2025
The pawns loans are typically pretty small, in the range of $200, Jugmans said.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
Declaring war on our nation’s cities and using our troops as political pawns is what dictators do.
—Brian Bennett, Time, 30 Sep. 2025
His congressional pawns could have passed a law outlawing ridicule of the president.
—Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
Missing pawns, cracked hourglass timers, and flimsy boxes have a way of sneaking up on you.
—Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 12 Sep. 2025
We’re being used as pawns in a much bigger chess game here.
—Demetrius Patterson, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2025
Dragging us along as pawns to keep the show going and money flowing into his pot?
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
My values include the beliefs that all of our students should feel safe, respected, and valued in our schools, that decisions should be made on the best available evidence and data, that our kids are not political pawns, that inclusion creates opportunity, and that schools shouldn’t ban books.
—Grace Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 15 Oct. 2025
Remember the big picture, people, and stop using taxpayers as pawns, or worse yet, collateral damage.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 15 Oct. 2025
The pawns loans are typically pretty small, in the range of $200, Jugmans said.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
Declaring war on our nation’s cities and using our troops as political pawns is what dictators do.
—Brian Bennett, Time, 30 Sep. 2025
His congressional pawns could have passed a law outlawing ridicule of the president.
—Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
Missing pawns, cracked hourglass timers, and flimsy boxes have a way of sneaking up on you.
—Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 12 Sep. 2025
We’re being used as pawns in a much bigger chess game here.
—Demetrius Patterson, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2025
Dragging us along as pawns to keep the show going and money flowing into his pot?
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pawns
deposits
Verb
-
In slow movements, each gunmetal gray robot grabs a towel by its corners, flattens it out, folds it twice, and deposits it into the basket.—
Billy Perrigo,
Time,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Think of it as one fund, and whatever money everyone deposits into this goes into the investment of the casino.—
Mackenzie Cummings-Grady,
Billboard,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pawns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pawns. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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