CHALK (UP) Synonyms: 60 Similar and Opposite Words

chalk up

verb

Definition of chalk up

as in to attribute

to explain (something) as being the result of something else let's chalk up her weird behavior to simple nervousness

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to achieve

to obtain (as a goal) through effort chalked up a record in singles tennis that is likely to stand for a long time

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 chalk up The privacy concerns are real—from the suit to data collection, and even the social media content made with the tech has left people chalking up Meta Glasses as a form of surveillance. — Joshua Hong, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026 Many of these times, KFA employees allegedly filed false expense reports chalking up the charges to meals, drinks, or standard massages. — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026 Perhaps in writing it, Salinger was trying to negotiate whether his remarkable survival through some of the war’s worst gauntlets could be chalked up to dumb luck, or divine intervention. — Literary Hub, 10 Aug. 2026 Burk chalked up the weekend issues to not fully anticipating the type of crowd that would be attending the two nights of Banana Ball. — Idaho Statesman, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for chalk up

Recent Examples of Synonyms for chalk up

Verb

The company attributed the loss mainly to fair-value losses on its convertible redeemable preferred shares, as per its prospectus.

— Jenny Lee, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
Line Islands corals show a similar mean increase but far wider scatter, which the researchers partly attribute to these records’ reliance on oxygen isotopes alone.

— Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of attribute

Verb

OpenAI is open about the fact that the numbers are achieved under the best possible conditions and may be slightly different from the models available in the production ChatGPT product that most users can access.

— Emily Forlini, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026
According to Chris Willatt, owner of Alpine Maids, loading silverware in the dishwasher with the handles pointing down and the usable sides pointing up is the best way to achieve prime cleanliness.

— Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of achieve

Verb

To conceive of oneself as a protagonist is to ascribe value to a life and signal faith in a grander plan underway to reveal that person’s purpose.

— Marshall Shaffer, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2026
On the other hand, the market appears unwilling to ascribe a higher multiple to those earnings.

— Jeff Marks, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of ascribe

Verb

The contestants will have to design a wedding dress that showcases their style, and the winning design will be produced and sold by David’s Bridal.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
In the final moments of the game, Chad scores the game-winning touchdown, but a penalty sets them back with just two seconds left on the clock.

— Tanya Fedak, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of win

Verb

Her Mexican mother was naturalized thanks to the 1986 amnesty, but her first husband struggled for years to attain legal status.

— Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
In this new culture, freedom was attained not through engagement in political struggle but through individual consumer choices.

— Robert Rubsam, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of attain

Verb

Aflac initially gained a bigger profile after introducing its duck mascot in 1999, in ads crafted by Kaplan Thaler Group, an independent agency that was eventually acquired by Publicis Groupe of France.

— Brian Steinberg, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
For example, a South Florida cop trying to find a vehicle could search and find a person’s information from thousands of miles away in other states, a selling point that gained Flock dozens of law enforcement contracts, the Herald found.

— Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of gain

Verb

Bonnell is the latest company to make that argument, launching the new 805 RX as the first model in its e-Moto lineup.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2026
Also, supportive connections between Mercury and Mars make this a great time for addressing personal matters with a clear head and common sense.

— Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of make

Browse Nearby Words

chalks up

chalk up

chalky

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Chalk up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chalk%20up. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of chalk up

verb

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