GAINFUL Synonyms: 19 Similar and Opposite Words

gainful

adjective

ˈgān-fəl

Definition of gainful

as in lucrative

yielding a profit graduated from school and went looking for gainful employment

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 gainful But in a bleak youth job market, there’s a growing recognition that crossing the graduation stage is not always enough to put young people on a path to gainful employment. — Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026 The goal is to prepare these students for their future jobs by developing the skills needed to find gainful employment. — Noe Padilla, IndyStar, 28 Dec. 2025 Where do alien nerds find gainful employ? — Literary Hub, 19 Nov. 2025 At her age, being prickly was neither enchanting nor gainful. — Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 15 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for gainful

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gainful

Adjective

Sanctions on Moscow could be swept away while lucrative trade deals would inevitably ensue.

— Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2026
Trump recruits Americans to hunt taxpayer fraud with lucrative cash rewards.

— , FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of lucrative

Adjective

Maeda said that Rakuten Medical’s Japan branch is profitable, though the global entity operates at a loss due to high research spending.

— Angelica Ang, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2026
Lionel Mestre, partner at French private equity firm Weinberg Capital Partners, told CNBC his firm still focuses on profitable defense businesses with established products, customers and positive cash flow, rather than early-stage startups.

— Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of profitable

Browse Nearby Words

gainers

gainful

gain ground

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“Gainful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gainful. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of gainful

adjective

Example Sentences

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