1
as in to commit
to obligate by prior agreement
I would love to go to dinner with you, but I've pledged myself to a play with my parents that night
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to pawn
to leave as a guarantee of repayment of a loan
pledged their house against the loan
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to vow
to make a solemn declaration of intent
I pledge that I will abide by all of the rules of this organization
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in guarantee
something given or held to assure that the giver will keep a promise
I was required to leave my keys as a pledge that I would bring the car back
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in promise
a person's solemn declaration that he or she will do or not do something
made a pledge to quit smoking
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pledge
Jeff Brady, NPR, 21 Apr. 2025
Lai, Taiwan's president, has pledged to increase Taiwan's military spending to 3% of its gross domestic product, up from about 2.5%, bringing it up to nearly a fifth of its overall budget.
—Arkansas Online, 19 Apr. 2025
Rose Gottemoeller, Foreign Affairs, 15 Apr. 2025
President Trump returned to the White House with pledges to address the housing shortage and affordability crisis.
—Julia Mueller, The Hill, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pledge
Verb
Around the world, more than 8,000 families, schools, groups, dioceses and other organizations have pledged to take actions in response to Francis' climate encyclical, according to the Laudato Si' Action Platform.
—Jeff Brady, NPR, 21 Apr. 2025
Lai, Taiwan's president, has pledged to increase Taiwan's military spending to 3% of its gross domestic product, up from about 2.5%, bringing it up to nearly a fifth of its overall budget.
—Arkansas Online, 19 Apr. 2025
Noun
The negotiation with China, focusing on nuclear arms control, should start with a Chinese pledge not to build or deploy enough warheads to undermine the limits of New START.
—Rose Gottemoeller, Foreign Affairs, 15 Apr. 2025
President Trump returned to the White House with pledges to address the housing shortage and affordability crisis.
—Julia Mueller, The Hill, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pledge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pledge
Verb
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But McMillan was the Panthers’ headliner and sent a clear message that the organization is committed to helping its quarterback.—
Dane Brugler,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2025
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Republicans are committed to trillions in federal spending cuts, and Medicaid is appearing as a large target.—
Jenny Goldsberry,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Investigators also learned that a friend of Johnson's had pawned a handgun for him.—
William Morris,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
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One accused him of illegally pawning luxury watches given to him by Middle Eastern governments.—
Jon Lee Anderson,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
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This year, the US military has deployed an anti-ship missile launcher for the first time on the northern tip of the Philippine archipelago, just across the strait from Taiwan, a self-governing democracy Beijing has vowed to take by force if necessary.—
Nectar Gan,
CNN Money,
28 Apr. 2025
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Despite the opposition, Lawler has vowed to hold live town halls in Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties, rejecting the advice of GOP leadership to skip the public meetings that have been lightning rods for raucous criticism of Trump’s controversial agenda.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
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There is no magic formula for how to get this right, and there is no guarantee that Trump’s approach will succeed.—
A. Wess Mitchell,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
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As for who might succeed Francis, experts say that since the late pope appointed many cardinals, his successor could be someone who shares his ideas and vision for the church, but there's no guarantee.—
David Chiu,
People.com,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
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For Yi Ming, an inheritor of artistic traditions from different continents, that connection is the promise of contemporary art.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
24 Apr. 2025
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Pennsylvanian David Gillis, for one, began his journey to the promise of gold in early February 1852.—
Matthew Wills,
JSTOR Daily,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The female moths deposit their almost invisible eggs in places where spider webs are likely to form, especially rotten logs, tree hollows and rock cavities.—
Elizabeth Weise,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
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The next step is depositing cash using online banking, PayPal, credit card, debit card or any other accepted payment method.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Plus, flight attendants swear by the clever organizers, too.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Travel + Leisure,
19 Apr. 2025
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Oz was joined by Secretary of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who swore him into office.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
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In January, organizers at a major San Francisco healthcare meeting increased security for attendees inside and outside the venue.—
Sriparna Roy,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2025
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Image Israel’s security chief accused Netanyahu of impropriety Ronen Bar, the chief of Israel’s domestic security agency, said in an affidavit published yesterday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had repeatedly pressed him to spy on Israelis who had led and funded anti-government protests.—
Justin Porter,
New York Times,
22 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pledge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pledge. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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