acquired 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of acquirednext
1
as in adscititious

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2
as in nonhereditary

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acquired

2 of 2

verb

past tense of acquire
1
as in developed
to come to have gradually from years of working two jobs, he has acquired the ability to get by on only a few hours of sleep a day

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in earned
to receive as return for effort acquired a reputation for always arriving at his friends' house just as they were sitting down to dinner

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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 acquired
Adjective
Transferring to Paramount+ will be all content currently on BET+ – original and acquired – subject to rights restrictions and license expirations. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2026
Verb
Janus Films has acquired all rights in North America and the UK/Ireland to Alfonso Cuarón’s classic fourth feature, Y Tu Mamá También, which has been restored in 4K to mark the 25th anniversary of its premiere. — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 26 Oct. 2026 The streamer acquired several game studios beginning in 2021, investing billions into the space, sources said. — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026 Last week The Lede Company, acquired Aisle 8 as part of a wider trend of communications and events agencies clubbing together to offer a variety of services across continents, or buying complementary businesses in order to broaden their reach. — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 26 Oct. 2026 In September 2020, Hipgnosis Songs Fund acquired Big Deal, which became Hipgnosis Songs Group with MacPherson as CEO. — Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 26 Oct. 2026 Or take Caminero, whom the Rays acquired in an afterthought of a trade with the Cleveland Guardians a few years back. — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026 Fortescue acquired the Toowong Process in 2022 and spent four years refining it at a demonstration plant in Brisbane. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 19 Oct. 2026 After the drama was embraced at Cannes Film Festival with a 16-minute standing ovation, Netflix acquired the movie for around $5 million. — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 18 Oct. 2026 Determining which scenario is more likely could reveal whether Mars experienced a massive moon-forming collision or acquired its moons from elsewhere in the early solar system. — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 18 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acquired
  1. incidental
  2. nonhereditary
  3. developed
  4. earned
  5. surface
  6. cultivated
  7. gained
  8. accidental
Adjective
  • The cynic would say their aims are financial, and the outcomes in education are merely incidental to that end.
    — Kamau Bobb October 21, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2026
  • But then the story stalls, zeroes in on some incidental detail, and collapses into a mode of reflection that is circular and recursive.
    — Meghan O’Gieblyn, The New York Review of Books, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of incidental
Adjective
  • Other research shows that nonhereditary forms can result from other factors, including existing medical conditions and diet, reports Maya Yang of the Guardian.
    — David Kindy, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Aug. 2021
  • Evan, who turns 2 in December, was born with Prader-Willi syndrome, a rare, nonhereditary genetic disorder that has a most cruel and unusual symptom — chronic hunger.
    — Maureen C. Gilmer, Indianapolis Star, 14 Sep. 2017
Definition of nonhereditary
Verb
  • Next, the researchers developed a simplified model that reproduced the observed rotation and current increase.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
  • How Richard Branson inspired Tan-Gillespie’s career ethos As Tan-Gillespie’s career developed, so did her aspirations.
    — Preston Fore, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of developed
Verb
  • The quarterback Mike Macdonald has earned his paychecks from making quarterbacks uncomfortable.
    — Sam McDowell October 25, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026
  • On every floor, display cabinets overflow with magic wands, sparkly hats, silk scarves, handcuffs, dice, Rubik's Cubes, toys, photographs and dozens of trophies earned by students in competitions all over the world.
    — Julie Bourdin, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of earned
Adjective
  • The ship also supports anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, and strike warfare.
    — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The newest options have expanded to include gravel running, or multi-surface running, for the modern sneaker shoe.
    — Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of surface
Verb
  • Eisenkot has cultivated a reputation for integrity, competence, and personal rectitude, forging relationships across Israel’s fractured political spectrum.
    — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Smith, who previously worked at fashion house Loewe, sees an opportunity for technology to develop the same kind of recognizable identity that fashion brands have cultivated for decades.
    — Christopher Claxton, Billboard, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of cultivated
Verb
  • Google’s agent debuted this spring and since then has expanded access, added more connections to a range of sources, and gained new visibility as part of the Gemini app’s redesign.
    — Marty Swant, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
  • From a career-high 155 yards from Javonte Williams to the defense making just enough stops to allow the offense to do its thing, the Cowboys gained a little bit of their swagger back in the City of Brotherly Love.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of gained
Adjective
  • But AppleCare One doesn't cover service fees for accidental damage.
    — Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Police are investigating the incident as an accidental death.
    — Kelsie Cairns, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of accidental

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Cite this Entry

“Acquired.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acquired. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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