as in benefits
something that provides happiness or does good for a person or thing
hitting the lottery jackpot was an incredible windfall for the recently laid-off worker
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Recent Examples of windfalls
Supporters have argued that any actions that put universities’ financial windfalls from athletics in jeopardy could be enough to move the needle.
—
Bracey Harris, NBC news, 19 May 2026
Short-sighted selloffs mandated by Washington for short-term windfalls undermine those efforts.
—John Hickenlooper, Denver Post, 18 May 2026
On rare occasions, books expected to be midlist titles become unexpected bestsellers, providing big revenue windfalls for their publisher.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 Apr. 2026
Some filers who itemize tax breaks have also seen windfalls from the bigger federal deduction limit for state and local taxes, known as SALT.
—Kate Dore, Cfp®, Ea, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026
Cue fat windfalls for the traders.
—Wailin Wong, NPR, 20 Apr. 2026
Two of Wednesday’s three major money Florida Lottery draw games — Florida Lotto, Powerball, Fantasy 5 — brought financial windfalls to three players around the state.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
Our pants had been ripped from brush and windfalls, and wads of insulation were hanging out of mine.
—Elwyn "bud" Myers, Outdoor Life, 11 Mar. 2026
Revenue hinges on capital gains from investments, bonuses to executives and windfalls from new stock offerings, all of which are grossly unpredictable.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Bracey Harris, NBC news, 19 May 2026
Short-sighted selloffs mandated by Washington for short-term windfalls undermine those efforts.
—John Hickenlooper, Denver Post, 18 May 2026
On rare occasions, books expected to be midlist titles become unexpected bestsellers, providing big revenue windfalls for their publisher.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 Apr. 2026
Some filers who itemize tax breaks have also seen windfalls from the bigger federal deduction limit for state and local taxes, known as SALT.
—Kate Dore, Cfp®, Ea, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026
Cue fat windfalls for the traders.
—Wailin Wong, NPR, 20 Apr. 2026
Two of Wednesday’s three major money Florida Lottery draw games — Florida Lotto, Powerball, Fantasy 5 — brought financial windfalls to three players around the state.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
Our pants had been ripped from brush and windfalls, and wads of insulation were hanging out of mine.
—Elwyn "bud" Myers, Outdoor Life, 11 Mar. 2026
Revenue hinges on capital gains from investments, bonuses to executives and windfalls from new stock offerings, all of which are grossly unpredictable.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for windfalls
Noun
-
However, the benefits of universal basic income are limited for low-income individuals, many of whom are able to increase spending only modestly, as they are saddled with debt or poverty.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
12 June 2026
-
Readiness, response, and recovery has to become a part of workforce strategy, embedded into benefits design, leave policies, occupational health and safety, communications, and business continuity planning.—
Bill Frist,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
Although both of their families tried to stop them, George and Louise eventually got their parents' blessings.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
9 June 2026
-
Azcona, 47, said those who visit her botanica for blessings and spiritual cleansings have felt shunned in traditional religious settings, either because of their sexuality, tattoos or other factors.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
7 June 2026
Noun
-
Programs like this are massive boons to parents who are often stranded without pediatric advice in between their hospital visits.—
Forbes.com,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
Today’s space industry, too, offers many economic boons, with companies such as SpaceX and Blue Origin employing thousands.—
Anastasia Klimchynskaya,
The Conversation,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Vaccination is one of the greatest gifts humanity has ever given itself.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
The declaration, in honor of the billionaire philanthropist whose gifts boosted arts, science, education and cultural causes and more across Los Angeles for decades, marks a collaboration between the County of Los Angeles and the cities of Los Angeles, Santa Monica and Beverly Hills.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
Wilson remained a significant earner, comfortably into five figures per week before bonuses.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
-
For each of the past two school years, for example, CMS has spent $750,000 year on bonuses for especially effective high school math teachers.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Windfalls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/windfalls. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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