EARNING Synonyms: 58 Similar and Opposite Words

earning

verb

present participle of earn

as in winning

to receive as return for effort during my teen years I earned pocket money by mowing lawns

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in deserving

to be or make worthy of (as a reward or punishment) you've earned the afternoon off after all that hard work

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 earning The native of Plainview, Texas, quickly emerged as one of the most dynamic running backs of the 1970s, earning a Pro Bowl selection and leading the Rams in rushing each year from 1973 to 1977 in coach Chuck Knox’s productive offense. — Greg Beacham, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026 The estimate models a married, two-earner couple with one child earning the national median family income of $99,999. — Martie Bowser, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026 The Queen City punched well above its weight, with Sam Hart’s Counter- holding onto its Michelin Star, five newcomers earning spots on the guide and one local chef taking home a national honor. — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 23 Oct. 2026 Fielder and Oppenheim’s word-of-mouth sensation has taken pop culture by storm, earning millions at the box office, winning near-universal critical praise and generating a ton of press coverage, as well as Oscar buzz. — David MacK, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026 Analysts said checking accounts are more insulated because they are tied to everyday payments, while savings accounts, where customers are more focused on earning higher yields, could face greater competition. — Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026 Cook was voted Conference USA Male Athlete of the Year, football Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year while also earning All-American honors from multiple publications. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2026 That means the Peach State now has 10 restaurants earning a coveted star. — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 23 Oct. 2026 The Governor’s Office said Chiu has worked toward rehabilitation through extensive self-help programs, earning his GED and taking college courses. — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for earning

Verb

However, if Democrats focus on AI safety after winning control of one or both chambers of Congress next month, the group’s work on AI issues leaves it well-positioned.

— Ashley Gold, semafor.com, 21 Oct. 2026
Swim goggles worn by pro athletes in winning locker rooms carry logos for celebratory libations like Moët & Chandon or Michelob Ultra.

— Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of winning

Verb

But the game management staff, certain depth chart placements and how the roster fails to reach its potential are deserving of an extensive evaluation.

— Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 2026
Millions of dollars in royalties that Smith diverted from real, deserving artists and rights holders.

— Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of deserving

Verb

Falcons sticking to Robinson on first down Thus far, the Falcons have had three first-down plays and have run running back Bijan Robinson on each, gaining a total of 22 yards.

— AJC.com, AJC.com, 25 Oct. 2026
The Panthers wound up out gaining Argyle 552 to 480 in total yards with running back Gabriel Bess picking up 160 yards on 19 carries.

— Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of gaining

Verb

That’s more than double the cash Tesla’s been garnering from operations in the last few quarters, meaning that will have a much bigger cash deficit in the final three months of 2026.

— Shawn Tully, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
With luxury bags and accessory live shows garnering more than 150 million views so far in 2026, Coach is expected to see the biggest benefit at the accessible price point.

— Kanika Talwar, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of garnering

Verb

Know More Some Republicans don’t want any administration making forays into the private sector with public money.

— Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026
And Musk’s reference to SpaceX making between $500 billion and $1 trillion in annual revenue by the end of 2027 vastly eclipsed the Street’s estimate of $186 billion.

— Jim Edwards, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of making

Verb

Both companies have approached Woodland about obtaining water and wastewater services because of concerns about groundwater access and quality.

— Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Alfozan has spent about 15 years in the United States, working at various tech companies, including Meta, and obtaining a master's degree from the University of California, Berkeley in 2025.

— Dan Mangan, CNBC, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of obtaining

Verb

Now, Tan-Gillespie is tasked with getting KFC’s American business back on track as the brand faces growing competition paired with more health-conscious and cash-strapped consumers.

— Preston Fore, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
Before Rover, success meant getting promotions, landing bigger clients and climbing the corporate ladder.

— Sally Simmons, Contributor, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of getting

Browse Nearby Words

earnestness

earning

earnings

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Style

“Earning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/earning. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of earning

verb

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