retainer

noun

ri-ˈtā-nər How to pronounce retainer (audio)
Definition of retainernext
1
as in servant
a person hired to perform household or personal services knights being dressed for battle by their retainers

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in employee
one who works for another for wages or a salary lifelong civil service retainers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 retainer Throughout 2017 Cohen (Lawyer A) submits 10 similar invoices for the remaining months in 2017, but is not on retainer, according to prosecutors. — Jessie Dimartino, ABC News, 29 July 2026 Oberding recalled that Kessler estimated such litigation would require an upfront $1 million retainer and that the conversation ended without any plans to pursue it further. — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 23 July 2026 PriorityEvac is contracted with GlobalX to keep a fleet of Airbus 320s on retainer. — Irene Wright, USA Today, 21 July 2026 To conceal the scheme and hide the bribes, prosecutors say, Zhu entered into a sham retainer agreement with Carone’s younger brother, Anthony Carone, 54, who is alleged to have laundered the payments through his law firm. — Chloe Atkins, NBC news, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for retainer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retainer
  1. servant
  2. employee
  3. maid
  4. worker
Noun
  • Mom isn’t her kids’ servant, and these types of expectations aren’t kind, fair, or respectful.
    — Parents, Parents, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Wadsworth begins Clue as the seemingly subservient servant before gradually taking command of the entire picture.
    — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of servant
Noun
  • The first phase is expected to be completed in 2029 and will bring together at least 3,000 employees.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Rudin had stepped away from producing in 2021, after a Hollywood Reporter story detailed multiple claims from Rudin’s former employees of bullying and verbal abuse as well as throwing objects at staff.
    — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of employee
Noun
  • Ella Beatty plays the daughter of a well-to-do New England family who develops a close relationship with her maid after abuse from her parents.
    — Erin Jensen, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Creative liberties include a romance between Borden and the family’s live-in maid, Bridget Sullivan (Vicky Krieps).
    — David Faris, TheWeek, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of maid
Noun
  • Singapore pays its political leaders high salaries to attract talent and deter graft, but the issue is thorny in the city-state, where the median wage worker made S$5,775 ($736) a month in 2025.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 9 Sep. 2026
  • To give workers more, the DSA would basically end capitalism.
    — Nolan Finley The Detroit News, Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of worker

Browse Nearby Words

retained
retainer
retainers
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Cite this Entry

“Retainer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retainer. Accessed 11 Sep. 2026.

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