success

noun

sək-ˈses How to pronounce success (audio)
Definition of successnext
1
as in achievement
a successful result brought about by hard work a long list of successes that the retiring president of the college can point to with pride

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hit
a person or thing that is successful their homemade jellies have been such a success that they are now distributed nationwide

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 success In the grand scheme of things, the Saints’ are still title favorites with area-leading success. — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Aug. 2026 Oman’s success similarly began before the conflict, after Muscat introduced a series of economic reforms over the past five years, and the country has also benefited from its position as an oil exporter sitting outside the strait. — semafor.com, 31 Aug. 2026 Freezing embryos can yield a higher success rate, which is why some women opt to freeze both their eggs and their embryos. — Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 31 Aug. 2026 The real problem is that, even if my gizmos were a success, that success would be completely trapped on the Pocket platform. — Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for success
Recent Examples of Synonyms for success
  1. achievement
  2. hit
  3. accomplishment
  4. blockbuster
  5. winner
  6. phenomenon
Noun
  • But what do athletes think of robots not only encroaching on their turf, but surpassing their achievements?
    — Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Both schools featured their ranking in separate social media posts, and despite not being ranked as high as Central, Pettit said South’s achievement is worth celebrating.
    — Chuck Fieldman, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of achievement
Noun
  • Morales’ first big-league hit was also his first big-league homer.
    — Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Sundays are reserved for manti—delicate lamb dumplings served with garlicky yoghurt and a hint of sumac—a dish that is always a hit with a loyal crowd of regulars.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of hit
Noun
  • It’s often said that great athletes struggle to talk about their sport and their accomplishments.
    — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • McGuiness’ in-ring appearances have been few and far between but getting back in shape to make it through to the end is an accomplishment in and of itself.
    — Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of accomplishment
Noun
  • Perhaps most recently, Prada’s Paradigme men’s fragrance, which launched in August 2025 and was developed in partnership with Givaudan, has approached modern blockbuster status, surpassing $57 million in sales during the first half of 2026.
    — Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The standalone movie, directed by Patty Jenkins, was a blockbuster hit with $824 million at the worldwide box office.
    — Zack Sharf, Variety, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of blockbuster
Noun
  • Excelling with Reichard, paired with his punting upside as the former Ray Guy Award winner at Georgia, pushed him over the hump.
    — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The winners of the competition received passes to attend the Worldcon and spent some time at the IEEE booth.
    — Thomas Coughlin, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of winner
Noun
  • The weather phenomenon has been known to intensify the yearly Harmattan winds, which dry out topsoil and cause pods to fall.
    — Paige Bruton, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The 10-sided phenomenon appears to have formed over the planet’s south pole recently, but no one is quite sure why.
    — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of phenomenon

Browse Nearby Words

succeeds
success
successes
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Cite this Entry

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

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