pawn 1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈpȯn How to pronounce pawn (audio)
Definition of pawnnext
as in tool
one that is or can be used to further the purposes of another though he liked to play up his influence with city hall, he was really just another pawn of the political bosses

Synonyms & Similar Words

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pawn

2 of 3

noun (2)

as in pledge
something given or held to assure that the giver will keep a promise offered her license as a pawn that she would bring back the rental canoe

Synonyms & Similar Words

pawn

3 of 3

verb

as in to deposit
to leave as a guarantee of repayment of a loan he pawned his antique watch in order to pay off his gambling debt

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 pawn
Noun
The process feels like a private atelier appointment rather than traditional banking or a pawn shop experience. — Tanya Akim, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026 Always sort through things that have been in storage for a while, and also scan through jewelry to look for maker’s marks and precious metal symbols to help identify pieces that are better suited for a pawn shop or estate sale. — Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 15 July 2026
Verb
There were 46 items in the safe, some of which Kisakye allegedly pawned and sold to feed a substantial gambling habit. — Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 3 June 2026 If a helmet is too outdated for your family to use, don't pawn it off on someone else. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pawn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pawn
  1. tool
  2. pledge
  3. deposit
  4. minion
  5. guarantee
  6. hock
  7. victim
  8. security
Noun
  • The New York Times has approved AI tools across its editorial and product teams and built an internal summarization tool called Echo, while barring staff from using AI to draft or substantially revise an article.
    — Jasmine Browley, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The team hired Moonshot to monitor online threats against its players – using tools that Moonshot developed a decade ago for national security purposes.
    — Odette Yousef, NPR, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of tool
Noun
  • But neither opponents nor his own Labour Party legislators have been able to grill him on the details of pledges made against the tough backdrop of mounting security challenges and economic pressure from the Iran war.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026
  • After receiving help from charities, churches and people, the couple made a pledge to always give back.
    — Dylan Sherman, Arkansas Online, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of pledge
Verb
  • Applicants can receive an approval decision from Biz2Credit in as little as 24 hours and get funds deposited within one business day after approval.
    — Carson Brunson, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Hampe logged the chute in a database and deposited it on a shelf with dozens of others.
    — M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of deposit
Noun
  • Just as Wolverine is surrounded, he’s saved by Mystique, who’s shape-shifted herself into one of Trask’s minions.
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026
  • One of Danhausen’s minions took out Mysterio with a flipping dive on the outside.
    — Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of minion
Noun
  • Along the way, the audience can expect tons of humiliation, terrible second prizes, and the guarantee that Robertson will turn at least one poor soul's wrong turn into several minutes of unhinged public destruction.
    — Rebecca Rosman, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Marley Spoon says its products are backed by a freshness and quality guarantee for four days after a subscription box arrives.
    — Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of guarantee
Verb
  • The page gave a deep snort, hocking a chartreuse wad against the root of the nightingale’s birch.
    — Hazlitt, Hazlitt, 19 Nov. 2025
  • Shein is far from the first online retailer to run into trouble with third-party vendors hocking controversial wares or flouting policy standards.
    — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 3 Sep. 2025
Definition of hock
Noun
  • Four people with wounds were transported to Hennepin Healthcare to be treated for their injuries, where one of the victims died, Parten said Wednesday afternoon.
    — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Prosecutors argued at trial that Shirilla intentionally drove into the building to end her toxic relationship with Russo and that Flanagan was an unintended victim who happened to be in the car.
    — Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of victim
Noun
  • The Foundry School is part of the State Department’s Pax Silica program, focused on AI and supply chain security, and includes a partnership with Stanford University to offer advanced-manufacturing curricula across eight college campuses.
    — Lauren Morganbesser, semafor.com, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The latest development came a day after the military said security forces killed 15 militants who were attempting to cross into northwestern Pakistan from Afghanistan.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of security

Browse Nearby Words

pawky
pawn
pawned
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pawn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pawn. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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