1
as in successes
a person or thing that is successful
the movie was panned by the critics but has been a winner at the box office
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in victors
one that defeats an enemy or opponent
the winner of any given war is usually the one who gets to write the history of that war
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in champions
the person who comes in first in a competition
the other finalists graciously congratulated the winner
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 winners
Portland’s Damian Lillard joined Bird and Craig Hodges (1990-92) as the only three-time winners with a stunning exhibition in the final round, ending up with a score of 29 — two better than runner-up and 2018 champion Devin Booker of Phoenix.
—
Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2026
See the full list of winners below.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 14 Feb. 2026
Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners can decide on cash or annuity payment within 60 days after becoming entitled to the prize.
—Staff Reports, The Providence Journal, 14 Feb. 2026
The overall winning design is distributed to all schools enrolled in the art program, and winners receive a cash reward.
—Claire Partain, Houston Chronicle, 13 Feb. 2026
According to the rules, the winners – determined by random drawings – will be notified via email that they were selected.
—Hannah Kirby, jsonline.com, 13 Feb. 2026
In the event of multiple jackpot winners, the jackpot prize will be shared.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
Does the Florida Lottery reveal lottery winners?
—Lianna Norman, Florida Times-Union, 8 Feb. 2026
See the full list of 2025 Golden Globes winners.
—Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 6 Jan. 2025
Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2026
See the full list of winners below.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 14 Feb. 2026
Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners can decide on cash or annuity payment within 60 days after becoming entitled to the prize.
—Staff Reports, The Providence Journal, 14 Feb. 2026
The overall winning design is distributed to all schools enrolled in the art program, and winners receive a cash reward.
—Claire Partain, Houston Chronicle, 13 Feb. 2026
According to the rules, the winners – determined by random drawings – will be notified via email that they were selected.
—Hannah Kirby, jsonline.com, 13 Feb. 2026
In the event of multiple jackpot winners, the jackpot prize will be shared.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
Does the Florida Lottery reveal lottery winners?
—Lianna Norman, Florida Times-Union, 8 Feb. 2026
See the full list of 2025 Golden Globes winners.
—Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 6 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for winners
Noun
-
One of our best successes has been building an agentic team called the Marketing Studio to roll out in product campaigns end to end.—
Geoff Colvin,
Fortune,
15 Feb. 2026
-
But looking back, that was the high-water mark for Ukraine’s successes on the battlefield.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Noah Schwab scored three times for the victors, with Dawson Schriefer, Riley Anich, Aiden Fischbach and Eli Schwab also scoring goals.—
Brian Hall,
Twin Cities,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Recent top winners that have aligned with the Oscars' Best Picture victors include Nomadland, Everything Everywhere All at Once, and Anora.—
Jillian Sederholm,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Meyer’s champions call him a bulldog.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Entering the season, the back-to-back World Series champions have a deep starting rotation, even accounting for a possible six-man rotation, which manager Dave Roberts hinted at during the offseason as a way to give starters extra rest over a long season.—
Anthony Solorzano,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
For a man who spent years absorbing hits from some of the biggest, fastest athletes on the planet in the NFL, comparing bobsledding to being back on the football field speaks volumes about the forces involved in the sport.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
17 Feb. 2026
-
In the draft report, responsibility for disasters would largely shift to states, which have long relied on the federal government to help survivors when a flood, hurricane or wildfire hits.—
Lauren Sommer,
NPR,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The giant Brân the Blessed’s head, which spoke for many years after it was severed, lies buried under a white hill, on top of which the Norman conquerors built a fort, known to later generations as the White Tower, or just the Tower of London.—
Hari Kunzru,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Some as conquerors, some as Crusaders.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
6 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
During his nine years as head coach, Aquin made the state Class 1A playoffs four times, and became state champs in that class in 1981 and again in 1986.—
Tom Strong,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
-
The Bobcats then lost a heartbreaker to Boston College to end their hopes of repeating as champs.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
How many blockbusters does James Cameron need to write before he’s finally considered a great screenwriter?—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Feb. 2026
-
The company has fewer blockbusters than other European pharmaceutical companies and its share price has been a comparative laggard over the past year.—
Ed Silverman,
STAT,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Miguel had brought Reina’s résumé to Nakia as one of two finalists, the other finalist being a guy who had done a year at Le Cordon Bleu.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Winners.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/winners. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
