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

Relevance

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

Related Words

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

But then came the deal put together by FIFA President Gianni Infantino to create an entity to handle the world soccer organization’s commercial enterprises, including ticket sales, broadcast and sponsorship rights. — Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026 The government will expand foreigners’ rights to develop real estate in Cuba. — Rick Jervis, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026 The government had framed it as a matter of national security, but voters were instead focused on interest rates, fishing rights and the cost of living. — Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 30 Aug. 2026 Icelandic voters rejected the measure amid widespread concern over maintaining control over fishing rights, a backbone of the country’s economy. — Lauren Morganbesser, semafor.com, 30 Aug. 2026 Debates inside Iceland have focused more on interest rates, fishing rights and the cost of living than on security. — Tom Littleand Johan Ahlander Reuters, Arkansas Online, 30 Aug. 2026 Interest rates and the cost of living Debates inside Iceland have focused on interest rates, fishing rights and the cost of living rather than on security. — CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026 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 Separately, the Spanish-language broadcast rights are held by Telemundo and Universo. — Jason Cohen, PC Magazine, 23 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rights

Noun

The privileges of Jover’s life appear entirely superficial, even a bit alien, when contrasted with her granddaughter’s narrative thread.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026
The school’s loss of voting privileges on conference business matters.

— Seth Emerson, New York Times, 26 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

This creates a thin thermal boundary layer and improves heat transfer at the point of impact.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026
Shorter grass improves seed-to-soil contact and lets more sunlight reach the soil surface for better seed germination.

— Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 29 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

Because the jury is advisory, Rogers will ultimately decide whether Meta is legally liable and, if so, what remedies to impose.

— Larry Magid, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026
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