RIGHTS Synonyms: 63 Similar and Opposite Words

rights 1 of 2

noun

plural of right

as in privileges

something to which one has a just claim everyone has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in claims

an entitlement to something what right do you have to tell us what to do?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

rights

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of right

as in redresses

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Dissimilar Words

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 rights

Noun

For families who believe their child's rights were violated based on race, disability, or gender in school, the federal agency often has been one of the main places to turn. — Claire Sibonney, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026 The entry of streaming services such as Amazon, Apple and Netflix have only increased the rights fees. — Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026 Disability rights advocates testified against the legislation, concerned by unanswered questions on how enforcement would work. — Danielle J. Brown, Baltimore Sun, 23 Aug. 2026 Separately, the Spanish-language broadcast rights are held by Telemundo and Universo. — Jason Cohen, PC Magazine, 23 Aug. 2026 What is sophistic is therefore to let the movement from sentience to moral status and then from moral status to legal rights happen without making visible the additional premises that are necessary at each stage. — Hamilton Mann, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026 James has experienced Republican attacks centered on her legislative record, pointing to her support for LGBTQ+ rights and gender-affirming care for minors as evidence that her politics are out of step with her religious background. — Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2026 Joseph Vecchio was stripped of his police powers late last year amid fallout from his time as a member of a tactical team whose traffic stops and street searches led to dozens of misconduct complaints and a bevy of civil-rights lawsuits. — Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026 Min Aung Hlaing was inaugurated president in April following a general election judged by United Nations experts and rights groups to be neither free nor fair. — ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rights

Noun

Under the order, Caruso is prohibited from performing any official duties, receiving pay, or accessing any privileges of the office.

— Ana Maria Soler, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
Eligible bookings may include privileges such as daily breakfast for two, hotel credits, room upgrades, early check-in and late checkout, subject to availability.

— Jacqui Gifford, Travel + Leisure, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of privileges

Noun

But my ultimate loyalty rests with the Constitution, which gives certain prerogatives to Congress.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 4 Aug. 2026
Exercising the prerogatives of citizenship meant a wearying, lifelong battle to mitigate harm—one that would invariably fail, as the experiences of one generation faded out of living memory and another one picked up the same arguments and same ideas to reconfigure them in new ways.

— Christopher Hooks, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026

Definition of prerogatives

Noun

The genre, with its sanitized storylines and Oscar-baiting pretensions, seems fundamentally at odds with the iconoclastic chef and television personality.

— Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2026
Like Paul Schrader’s 1982 version of the latter, this is an upscale genre piece whose pretensions towards Art are upfront, starting with a quotation from no less than Schopenhauer.

— Dennis Harvey, Variety, 30 July 2026

Definition of pretensions

Verb

To drive lasting change, leaders must demonstrate how allyship enhances team performance, improves decision-making, and directly supports individual career trajectories.

— Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
Miami improves to 66-64 on the season to stay on the outskirts of the National League’s wild card race and has won seven of eight games this year so far against the Nationals (61-70).

— Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of improves

Verb

This lessens the chance of fungal diseases and betters airflow and light exposure to all parts of the plant.

— Melissa Epifano, The Spruce, 18 July 2026
If the Sharks make the playoffs next season and Celebrini betters his 115-point total from this season, wouldn’t his next deal become that much more expensive?

— Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026

Definition of betters

Verb

Some household remedies tout baking soda as a treatment for things like pest deterrence; however, there are generally more effective—and safer—methods for fixing common houseplant problems than using baking soda.

— Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 10 Aug. 2026
The product’s ceramide inclusion is also joined by skin care’s workhorse hyaluronic acid, antioxidant-rich vitamins C and E, plus sea buckthorn, which aids with brightening and thereby remedies dark spots.

— Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 17 July 2026