pawn 1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈpȯn How to pronounce pawn (audio)
Definition of pawnnext
as in tool
one that is or can be used to further the purposes of another though he liked to play up his influence with city hall, he was really just another pawn of the political bosses

Synonyms & Similar Words

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pawn

2 of 3

noun (2)

as in pledge
something given or held to assure that the giver will keep a promise offered her license as a pawn that she would bring back the rental canoe

Synonyms & Similar Words

pawn

3 of 3

verb

as in to deposit
to leave as a guarantee of repayment of a loan he pawned his antique watch in order to pay off his gambling debt

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 pawn
Noun
Always sort through things that have been in storage for a while, and also scan through jewelry to look for maker’s marks and precious metal symbols to help identify pieces that are better suited for a pawn shop or estate sale. — Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 15 July 2026 Don’t be a pawn for another photo op for this dysfunctional White House. — Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
Verb
If a helmet is too outdated for your family to use, don't pawn it off on someone else. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2026 After being blackballed from the finance sector, Coop resorts to burglarizing the homes of those in his social circle and pawning the items to stay afloat. — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 1 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pawn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pawn
  1. tool
  2. pledge
  3. deposit
  4. minion
  5. guarantee
  6. hock
  7. victim
  8. security
Noun
  • Tubes from hospital equipment were still attached to his face, gunshot wounds on his right side were still gaping, and tattoos which included a gun and a bullet casing were still embedded in his skin, a permanent memorial to the tools of his demise.
    — Andy Rose, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Their choices were tools that understand their work and keep them in control.
    — Dan Fitzpatrick, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of tool
Noun
  • The settlement plan also includes a pledge by the school to provide a statement to the claimant families condemning Lodge's criminal acts, and to detail improvements made to the organ donation program.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Those pledges were made before the artificial intelligence boom, at a time when technology companies were under pressure from employees and outside activists to do more to cut their emissions.
    — Matt Day, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of pledge
Verb
  • First, Babar Azam, recently reappointed as captain, rocked on to his back foot and deposited the hosts’ Jomel Warrican over long on and into the stand at the Queen’s Park Oval for six.
    — Ahsan Iftikhar Nagi, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The scammers sent Fisher what turned out to be a fake check, telling her to deposit it and use the money for the work equipment.
    — Marissa Perlman, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of deposit
Noun
  • Just as Wolverine is surrounded, he’s saved by Mystique, who’s shape-shifted herself into one of Trask’s minions.
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026
  • One of Danhausen’s minions took out Mysterio with a flipping dive on the outside.
    — Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of minion
Noun
  • Past performance is no guarantee of future results, remember.
    — Frank Holmes, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Adult usage is holding steady, and there’s no guarantee that young people will continue abstaining.
    — Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, The Conversation, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of guarantee
Verb
  • The page gave a deep snort, hocking a chartreuse wad against the root of the nightingale’s birch.
    — Hazlitt, Hazlitt, 19 Nov. 2025
  • Shein is far from the first online retailer to run into trouble with third-party vendors hocking controversial wares or flouting policy standards.
    — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 3 Sep. 2025
Definition of hock
Noun
  • During the investigation, police were alerted to two shooting victims who had walked into area hospitals, including Chance.
    — Adam Thompson, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Mines Minister Rufin Benam Beltoungou expressed condolences to victims’ families and warned miners about the dangers of unsafe mining practices, according to a statement posted by the ministry.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of victim
Noun
  • Mutual care becomes easier when the agreement respects your security too.
    — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2026
  • If your toddler would rather try the toilet first, use a potty training seat to add security and ease anxiety about falling into the toilet.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of security

Browse Nearby Words

pawky
pawn
pawned
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pawn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pawn. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pawn

Nglish: Translation of pawn for Spanish Speakers

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