reclaim

1
as in to regain
to get again in one's possession she reclaimed the championship title after losing it last year

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to rehabilitate
to make better in behavior or character a program to reclaim juvenile offenders by requiring them to do community service

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in to recycle
to obtain (a raw material) by separating it from a by-product or waste product after reclaiming the glycerin from used vegetable oil, you can use the oil to create a fuel that burns cleaner than regular gasoline

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb reclaim contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of reclaim are deliver, ransom, redeem, rescue, and save. While all these words mean "to set free from confinement or danger," reclaim suggests a bringing back to a former state or condition of someone or something abandoned or debased.

reclaimed long-abandoned farms

Where would deliver be a reasonable alternative to reclaim?

While the synonyms deliver and reclaim are close in meaning, deliver implies release usually of a person from confinement, temptation, slavery, or suffering.

delivered his people from bondage

When could ransom be used to replace reclaim?

The words ransom and reclaim can be used in similar contexts, but ransom specifically applies to buying out of captivity.

tried to ransom the kidnap victim

When is it sensible to use redeem instead of reclaim?

The meanings of redeem and reclaim largely overlap; however, redeem implies releasing from bondage or penalties by giving what is demanded or necessary.

job training designed to redeem school dropouts from chronic unemployment

In what contexts can rescue take the place of reclaim?

Although the words rescue and reclaim have much in common, rescue implies freeing from imminent danger by prompt or vigorous action.

rescued the crew of a sinking ship

When can save be used instead of reclaim?

While in some cases nearly identical to reclaim, save may replace any of the foregoing terms; it may further imply a preserving or maintaining for usefulness or continued existence.

an operation that saved my life

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 reclaim As the Tigers seek to reclaim past glory and the Chanticleers chase a perfect postseason run, this showdown promises a clash of resilience versus momentum on college baseball’s biggest stage. Giovanni Malloy, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025 When some activists did demonize them following the murder of George Floyd, the police retreat left us with dirty, dangerous, and declining cities, bolstering Donald Trump's case to reclaim the presidency. Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 June 2025 Since then, the Lakers have struggled to reclaim that same edge, missing the kind of impact and toughness Caruso consistently brought. Ricardo Klein, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 June 2025 Wanting to reclaim control over her future and build a life that could include meaningful work and family, Liberatore went back to school to study law. Nia Bowers, USA Today, 11 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for reclaim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reclaim
Verb
  • The decision blocks, at least temporarily, Gov. Gavin Newsom's efforts to regain control of the Guard.
    Brittney Melton, NPR, 20 June 2025
  • Turn into the skid - Turning into the skid can help the vehicle's tires realign to regain control.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 20 June 2025
Verb
  • For the past 20 years, conservationists in Spain worked to rehabilitate their European beaver populations and eventually noticed beavers living closer and closer to the border with Portugal, the organization said.
    Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 13 June 2025
  • Carl Lopp, repeatedly since taking ownership of the property in 1988, promised to rehabilitate the facility with little to show for, one Unified Government commissioner told The Star.
    Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 11 June 2025
Verb
  • Yet much of the infrastructure from which these magnets would be recycled is also in China.
    Saleem H. Ali, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
  • Courtesy of Fairphone Fairphone says the new device is made with more than 50 percent fair and recycled materials, including cobalt sourced through the Fair Cobalt Alliance, fair gold, silver, and tungsten, and recycled aluminum and rare earth metals.
    Julian Chokkattu, Wired News, 28 June 2025
Verb
  • Hartford Courant Thomas, 32, has been trying to recapture his game and, like all of the top golfers in the world, trying to approach the outrageously high bar set by Scheffler, who has been No. 1 in the world for more than 100 weeks.
    Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 20 June 2025
  • But Williams previously said that recapturing the closer’s role didn’t matter to him.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 20 June 2025
Verb
  • Last Verified On June 22, 2025 Information Confirmed By Newsweek All of these offers are easy to redeem with the Fanatics Sportsbook promo offer.
    Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 June 2025
  • Scooter's Coffee offers BOGO deal on Father's Day Scooter's Coffee customers can redeem a buy one, get one drink offer on Sunday, June 15 in the Scooter's Coffee mobile app.
    Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 15 June 2025
Verb
  • Police recovered the keys to the SUV in the 600 block of Burr, court records state.
    Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025
  • Authorities in Kootenai County, Idaho, said the body of the man recovered on the mountain is believed to be the only suspect responsible for the deadly shootings.
    Brittney Melton, NPR, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • Pictures from the Instagram video where the camera was retrieved after 10 years in the cave.
    Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025
  • Jordan retrieved it as authorities watched, this time undetected.
    Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 27 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Reclaim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reclaim. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

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