AUCTION Synonyms: 57 Similar and Opposite Words

auction 1 of 2

noun

Definition of auction

as in sale

a public event at which things are sold to the people who offer to pay the most She bought the desk at an auction. He made several bids at the auction.

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auction

2 of 2

verb

as in to merchandise

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Dissimilar 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 auction

Noun

The Dania Beach headquarters campus that once served as the nerve center of now-defunct Spirit Airlines has been sold to a Boston hedge fund that served as the stalking horse bidder in a bankruptcy court auction. — David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026 Many of those purchases were made online, suggesting that luxury can serve as a relatively accessible entry point for clients who might otherwise never have participated in an auction. — George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 13 Aug. 2026

Verb

Earlier this year, Ho Chi Minh City authorities attempted to auction Lan’s yacht, named The Reverie Saigon, for around $2 million. — Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 18 June 2026 There are no checks and balances; no independent agency to auction off and assign oil licenses. — Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for auction

Recent Examples of Synonyms for auction

Noun

This next generation of talent provides an in for luxury brands who are keen to generate loyalty and sales, not just celebrity fervor, through their Korean brand ambassadors.

— Madeleine Schulz, Vogue, 12 Aug. 2026
Their capacity to generate revenue via sales is ultimately determined by the market, and those players that are attracting interest.

— James McNicholas, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of sale

Verb

As shoppers seek physical stores this upcoming holiday, retailers need to ensure brick-and-mortar stores are well-staffed and neatly merchandised as well as stocked with in-demand inventory.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 6 Aug. 2026
PlusOne will be merchandised within the Wellness by Ulta Beauty areas in stores, alongside other wellness solutions.

— Sharon Edelson, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026

Definition of merchandise

Noun

Deutsche Bank has become the first non-Chinese bank allowed to settle yuan transactions in Europe, a major step in Beijing’s ambitions to dislodge the supremacy of the US dollar.

— Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 12 Aug. 2026
But the professor also says the transaction raises a more fundamental question about what universities should be doing with their land at a moment when AI infrastructure is booming.

— Joshua Hong, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of transaction

Verb

German authorities said Russia organized the 2019 killing of Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, a former Chechen rebel commander who was shot in a Berlin park by Vadim Krasikov, a hitman who was later greeted by Putin after he was exchanged in a spy swap.

— Claudia Ciobanu, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
German authorities also said Russia organized the 2019 killing of Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, a former Chechen rebel commander who was shot in a Berlin park by Vadim Krasikov, a hitman who was later greeted by Putin after he was exchanged in a spy swap.

— CBS News, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of exchange

Verb

Pennsylvania law generally allows people to buy and resell tickets online, including above face value, without requiring the seller to obtain a local resale license.

— Gabby Sartori, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2026
Elite would then resell tickets on StubHub, Vivid Seats and other secondary marketplaces at a significant markup, often 100% to 500% more than the original price, according to the complaint.

— Savannah Sicurella, AJC.com, 29 July 2026

Definition of resell

Verb

Lowes Foods’ history in Charlotte In 2014, Lowes Foods began pulling out of Charlotte, swapping stores with Harris Teeter and closing underperforming stores as part of a reinvestment strategy.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 11 Aug. 2026
An attacker doesn’t always need physical access to swap a SIM card, either.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of swap

Verb

According to court records, Silvia purchased a shotgun that year and then went to Woodard's Orlando-area home, where his wife had been living since their separation two months earlier.

— CBS News, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
The merch was originally made for OpenAI employees to purchase on an internal site, but the team decided to make a small capsule collection available to the public.

— T.M. Brown, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of purchase

Browse Nearby Words

au courant

auction

auctioned

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Auction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/auction. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of auction

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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