SOUGHT (OUT) Synonyms: 37 Similar and Opposite Words

sought (out)

verb

Definition of sought (out)

past tense of seek (out)

as in looked up

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

as in looked

Related Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sought (out)

Verb

But as Melendrez turned to leave empty-handed, Chin looked up from behind the counter, smiled, and waved him back.

— Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
Noe and his sons looked up at the sky to watch five pelicans fly northward, away from the Gulf.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 July 2026

Definition of looked up

Verb

Fire danger continues in the Pacific Northwest Saturday as flame-fueling winds reached their strongest point in days on Friday, challenging fire crews battling to keep destructive blazes from spreading in Spokane, Washington, and across the region.

— Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
Somebody reached into the machinery that treats drinking water in a dozen states, in real towns, while the rest of us argued about model releases.

— Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of reached

Verb

As digital technology and new forms of distribution rework the economics of the business, however, some media stalwarts have cast about for new forms of revenue.

— Brian Steinberg, Variety, 11 June 2026
Unable to cope with that, British voters are casting about blaming the politicians.

— David Frum, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026

Definition of cast about

Verb

In that massacre, Black South Carolinians were systematically hunted throughout their community over an alleged attack on a white elderly woman, which was later proved false.

— Jacob Ware, The Conversation, 31 July 2026
Marmots, woodland creatures whose raw viscera are believed by Siberians to have medicinal properties, are not infrequently hunted by poachers and sold at wet markets.

— Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 25 July 2026

Definition of hunted

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.

Browse Nearby Words

sought

sought (out)

soul

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Sought (out).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sought%20%28out%29. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of sought (out)

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

anecdote

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes