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
Relevance
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
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
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Recent Examples of pawn
Matt Robison, Newsweek, 18 Feb. 2025
The mother walked into a pawn shop and asked to see a revolver before fatally shooting herself.
—Ben Brachfeld, People.com, 18 Feb. 2025
Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2024
To the show’s not-really-defense, it’s never taken a strong stance on Jimmy’s new approach, which followed a year of catatonia, debauchery and pawning his teenage daughter Alice (Lukita Maxwell) off on their neighbor Liz (Christa Miller) to surrogate parent.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 16 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for pawn
Noun
However, recent comments by Trump have been used to support the narrative—fed by China—that Washington views Taiwan as no more than a pawn in its efforts to contain China.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 18 Feb. 2025
The mother walked into a pawn shop and asked to see a revolver before fatally shooting herself.
—Ben Brachfeld, People.com, 18 Feb. 2025
Verb
Here, Morgan Murphy simply ignores the talk-show question she’s asked and chooses instead to try to pawn a used desk of hers off on someone in the audience.
—Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2024
To the show’s not-really-defense, it’s never taken a strong stance on Jimmy’s new approach, which followed a year of catatonia, debauchery and pawning his teenage daughter Alice (Lukita Maxwell) off on their neighbor Liz (Christa Miller) to surrogate parent.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 16 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for pawn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pawn
Verb
-
Processing time required by the taxpayer's bank or credit union to deposit the refund.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
20 Feb. 2025
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Taxpayers can use it to deposit their refunds in up to three accounts.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
14 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Bandcamp’s cut is 15% on digital sales and 10% when hocking physical stuff (t-shirts, vinyl, CDs, cassettes, etc).—
SPIN Staff,
SPIN,
9 Jan. 2025
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Despite the league’s highest payroll and having already hocked any draft pick that wasn’t nailed down (some of them more than once), the Suns fell 15-18 on the season.—
John Hollinger,
The Athletic,
6 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Clooney had to mortgage his house to help finance the black-and-white film, which received six Oscar nominations, including for best screenplay.—
Thea Traff,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2025
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The trade deadline talk of not mortgaging the future will remain for the next few weeks, but games like Wednesday are much needed for any direction the franchise chooses.—
Danny Emerman,
The Mercury News,
16 Jan. 2025
Articles Related to pawn
Cite this Entry
“Pawn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pawn. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025.
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