OBTAINED Synonyms: 53 Similar and Opposite Words

obtained

verb

past tense of obtain

as in earned

to receive as return for effort after years of proving herself, she obtained recognition as a serious journalist

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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 obtained In a video obtained by TMZ, a man the outlet identified as Perez is shown taking out a large butcher’s knife from his black sweatshirt pocket. — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026 Paul’s body was found wrapped in a carpet and covered with a blue tarp on the kitchen floor, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by PEOPLE. — Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2026 During that period, he was granted federal work authorization and later obtained a commercial driver's license (CDL) issued by the State of California. — Eric MacK , Bill Melugin, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026 In footage obtained by TMZ, Perez is seen being escorted away by a production staffer before pulling a large knife from his sweatshirt. — Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 25 Oct. 2026 The Leon County Sheriff’s Office obtained footage from exterior cameras at the library. — Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2026 Police obtained a search warrant for the van, but did not find the firearm inside. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026 Communications obtained under the state’s public records law — first published by the Animal Welfare Institute and reported on by the Salt Lake Tribune — show Utah officials took pains to protect the farm’s privacy amid the outbreak. — Nat Lash, ProPublica, 23 Oct. 2026 The Afghan couple raised her for 18 months, but during that time the Masts also obtained a final adoption order from a Virginia court without notifying them. — Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for obtained

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

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

Verb

Meanwhile, national Republicans are attempting to mobilize the state’s conservative voters around Marshall in a state Trump won with 57% of the vote in 2024.

— Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2026
In 2022, Lula summoned his old populist magnetism, built a coalition large enough to defeat Bolsonaro, and won a third term.

— Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of won

Verb

The show’s soundtrack also garnered critical acclaim, with many of the covers performed by the cast making the Billboard Hot 100.

— Saba Hamedy, NBC news, 21 Oct. 2026
There has been a long-running legal effort to win a new trial in the case that has garnered national attention and was the subject of a podcast.

— CBS News, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of garnered

Verb

To add to it, backup running back Tyler Goodson got his most burn as a Cowboy, rushing for 38 yards on 10 carries.

— Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026
It's got a set of pedals, as well as a twist-throttle on the right bar, controlling a 750-W nominal, 1,310-W peak, 85-Nm (63-lb-ft) electric motor between the rear wheels.

— Loz Blain October 26, New Atlas, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of got

Verb

No Israeli party has ever attained the 50% share needed to control parliament by itself.

— Hannah Ridge, The Conversation, 23 Oct. 2026
The researchers demonstrated the benefit of using different atoms by maintaining quantum entanglement for 10 seconds as against a few milliseconds attained with the same set of atoms.

— Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of attained

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obtainable

obtained

obtaining

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

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Synonyms of obtained

verb

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