Definition of prizenext

prize

2 of 4

adjective

prize

3 of 4

verb (1)

1
2
as in to pull
to raise, move, or pull apart with or as if with a lever trying to prize apart the jammed gears

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

prize

4 of 4

verb (2)

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun prize differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of prize are booty, loot, plunder, spoils, and spoil. While all these words mean "something taken from another by force or craft," prize applies to spoils captured on the high seas or territorial waters of the enemy.

the wartime right of seizing prizes at sea

Where would booty be a reasonable alternative to prize?

The meanings of booty and prize largely overlap; however, booty implies plunder to be shared among confederates.

thieves dividing up their booty

When would loot be a good substitute for prize?

While the synonyms loot and prize are close in meaning, loot applies especially to what is taken from victims of a catastrophe.

picked through the ruins for loot

When might plunder be a better fit than prize?

Although the words plunder and prize have much in common, plunder applies to what is taken not only in war but in robbery, banditry, grafting, or swindling.

a bootlegger's plunder

How do spoil and spoils relate to one another, in the sense of prize?

Spoil, more commonly spoils, applies to what belongs by right or custom to the victor in war or political contest.

the spoils of political victory

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of prize
Noun
The directing, acting and artistic contribution prizes each carry JPY300,000 ($1,900). — Mark Schilling, Variety, 4 Nov. 2026 Across the promotion, customers who place an order are eligible to enter one prize draws. — New Atlas, 4 Nov. 2026
Verb
Varieties like ‘Owari Satsuma’ and ‘Tango’ are particularly prized for indoor growing. — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 16 Oct. 2026 Beef tallow is rendered beef fat with a 400 degree Fahrenheit smoke point, prized for its rich flavor and now finding its way back into kitchens as cooks look past industrial seed oils. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for prize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prize
Noun
  • To defend us all from another generation's youth, treasure and opportunity squandered at the altar of endless war.
    — Eric Henderson, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026
  • An amateur historian has stumbled upon a provocative clue to the enduring mystery of what became of a notorious pirate who raided a royal Indian treasure ship centuries ago, implicating a co-conspirator whose name is familiar to many New Yorkers.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • For Skepta, now taking his mum to award ceremony dinners, that wish has come full circle.
    — Will Pritchard, Pitchfork, 9 Nov. 2026
  • That effort must include rebuilding the agencies responsible for evaluating proposals and delivering awards.
    — Carole LaBonne, Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2026
Adjective
  • Bold from brown butter and balsamic vinegar and bright from lemon, the crunchy topping is an excellent foil to the sweetness of roasted squash.
    — Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Their bench even has some guys providing excellent backup options.
    — David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Quinn Sullivan started the sequence with a cross in front of goal that Indiana Vassilev settled and pulled goalkeeper William Yarbrough out of his area to find Cavan Sullivan for a close-range finish into an empty net.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 8 Nov. 2026
  • After Stephen Colbert was accused of crossing a picket line during a Harvard University event, the evening was cut short when someone pulled a fire alarm.
    — Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 8 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Its most critical budget item is a donation in the form of space and services from Orange County government valued at about $11,000.
    — Beth Kassab, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Some deals made this year include K9 orders to Spain from Hanwha Aerospace, valued at about 546 million euros, as well as a $922 million order for K239 rocket systems from Norway.
    — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • The skin care gem instantly delivers a gorgeous glow, while supporting your lipid barrier and skin cell renewal.
    — Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 4 Nov. 2026
  • While Knight’s version was already a rich, uptempo soul gem, Love Affair managed to make the song even bigger.
    — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Although originally for British, Irish and Commonwealth writers, the prize is now open to all English-language books and considered the most prestigious accolade for a single work of fiction.
    — Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2026
  • After a turbulent upbringing that included stints in prison, Townsend began the work negotiating gang truces that brought him widespread accolades, earning him numerous contracts with the city of Los Angeles.
    — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026
Adjective
  • The 39-year-old Crosby broke his tie with Kings great Marcel Dionne by scoring his 1,772nd point when Evgeni Malkin's one-timer deflected in off him in the second period.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 8 Nov. 2026
  • The 39-year-old Crosby broke his tie with Kings great Marcel Dionne by scoring his 1,772nd point when Evgeni Malkin’s one-timer deflected in off him in the second period.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 Nov. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prize. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

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