Synonyms of prize

prize 1 of 4

noun

ˈprīz 

1

as in treasure

someone or something unusually desirable

in the view of most of her friends, her current boyfriend is certainly no prize

Synonyms & Similar Words

• treasure
• gem
• jewel
• plum
• pearl
• catch
• find
• blessing
• windfall
• valuable
• spoil
• swag
• booty
• loot
• gold
• plunder
• brass ring
• goody
• godsend
• prize money
• jackpot
• glory
• treasure trove
• pride

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lemon
• loser

2

as in award

something given in recognition of achievement

the Pritzker Architecture Prize is the world's most prestigious honor in the field of architecture

Synonyms & Similar Words

• award
• accolade
• trophy
• honor
• medal
• premium
• decoration
• plume
• badge
• blue ribbon
• distinction
• applause
• cup
• kudo
• ribbon
• plaque
• crown
• plate
• tribute
• laurel
• commendation
• homage
• paean
• eulogy
• encomium
• plaudit
• order
• citation
• panegyric
• compliment
• honorable mention
• hallelujah
• bravo

prize

2 of 4

adjective

as in excellent

of the very best kind

delighted to be guests at one of her prize dinner parties

Synonyms & Similar Words

• excellent
• great
• wonderful
• terrific
• lovely
• fabulous
• superb
• awesome
• beautiful
• fantastic
• prime
• stellar
• marvelous
• fine
• quality
• grand
• hot
• famous
• top
• neat
• sensational
• choice
• classic
• divine
• heavenly
• splendid
• banner
• cool
• cracking
• first-class
• brave
• sterling
• superlative
• superior
• blue-ribbon
• immense
• par excellence
• topping
• slick
• exceptional
• prizewinning
• good
• crackerjack
• first-rate
• dandy
• too much
• dynamite
• bumper
• high-class
• noble
• unsurpassed
• swell
• fab
• capital
• nifty
• out of this world
• number one
• top-notch
• boss
• topflight
• top-shelf
• keen
• peachy
• supernal
• first-string
• mean
• groovy
• frontline
• radical
• special
• blue-chip
• brag
• decent
• dope
• fantabulous
• out-of-sight
• bully
• gone
• primo
• wizard
• righteous
• bang-up
• top-of-the-line
• better
• corking
• satisfactory
• tip-top
• hype
• A1
• adequate
• bonny
• peachy keen
• acceptable
• phat
• five-star
• down
• gilt-edged
• boffo
• gangbusters
• classical
• four-star
• jim-dandy
• premium
• numero uno
• all right
• traditional
• A-OK
• fancy
• select
• tolerable
• OK
• standard
• passable
• high-grade
• high-test
• superfine

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• poor
• terrible
• rotten
• pathetic
• awful
• lousy
• vile
• wretched
• inferior
• unsatisfactory
• atrocious
• bad
• substandard
• low-grade
• execrable
• mediocre
• second-class
• middling
• second-rate

prize

3 of 4

verb (1)

1

as in to pry

to draw out by force or with effort

prizing the stubborn nails out of the board

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pry
• pull
• extract
• pluck
• yank
• tear (out)
• remove
• take (out)
• uproot
• wrest
• withdraw
• corkscrew
• mine
• root (out)
• wring

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• insert
• install
• implant
• instill
• stuff
• jam
• ram
• wedge
• cram

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

• pry
• pull
• lift
• lever
• break
• divide
• jimmy
• part
• separate
• elevate
• hoist
• shift
• uplift
• break up
• disengage
• detach
• disjoin

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• join
• connect

prize

4 of 4

verb (2)

as in to treasure

to hold dear

veterinarians know that pets are highly prized by their owners

Synonyms & Similar Words

• treasure
• value
• love
• appreciate
• enjoy
• cherish
• respect
• admire
• like
• relish
• regard
• fancy
• reverence
• revel (in)
• delight (in)
• set store by
• revere
• venerate
• groove (on)
• esteem
• dig
• memorialize
• caress
• enshrine
• worship
• apprize
• dote (on)
• adore
• idolize

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hate
• despise
• undervalue
• scorn
• slight
• detest
• sniff (at)
• snub
• loathe
• disdain
• scout
• disvalue
• minimize
• abhor
• forget
• write off
• put down
• disparage
• decry
• depreciate
• abandon
• belittle
• neglect
• abominate
• execrate
• deprecate
• cry down
• kiss off
• high-hat
• bad-mouth

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

Recent Examples of prize

Noun

Madonna, who has been nominated at the VMAs in every decade of her career, leads this year's field with 11 nominations, including the top 3 prizes. — CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026

Prize money at the Team Championship was set at $40 million, down from last year’s $50 million prize fund. — Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 17 Aug. 2026

Verb

McDonnell seemed to prize family connections over real-world experience, hiring her nephews to serve as directors and executive producers on various series. — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 2026

Humans prize their own abilities to observe, analyze, and arrive at a definition of reality. — Monitor Reviewers, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Aug. 2026