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
Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 3 Feb. 2026
Steve Buscemi and Giancarlo Esposito have supporting turns as, respectively, a pawn shop owner and a cop, and joined Turturro onstage where the super-group of Sundance veterans spoke of their personal affection for Robert Redford.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
If a helmet is too outdated for your family to use, don't pawn it off on someone else.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pawn
Noun
Rhode Island activist Nicole Solas said adults shouldn't use students as pawns in political games.
—Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 3 Feb. 2026
Steve Buscemi and Giancarlo Esposito have supporting turns as, respectively, a pawn shop owner and a cop, and joined Turturro onstage where the super-group of Sundance veterans spoke of their personal affection for Robert Redford.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
Investigators found jewelry with traces of Pettibone's blood that Geralds had pawned, records showed.
—Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
If a helmet is too outdated for your family to use, don't pawn it off on someone else.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pawn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pawn
Verb
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Leonardo Fernandez Viloria | Reuters Venezuela oil revenue will no longer be deposited in an account in Qatar, Energy Secretary Chris Wright told NBC News in an interview this week.—
Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
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In other words, this could be an ideal account to deposit $10,000 into in 2026.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The page gave a deep snort, hocking a chartreuse wad against the root of the nightingale’s birch.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
19 Nov. 2025
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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
Verb
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Shepherd saw an opportunity and mortgaged her home to start a mail-order seed business, marketing unusual seed varieties, including mesclun mixes.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
7 Feb. 2026
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Syria’s sovereignty had been partly mortgaged to Russia and Iran, which were squeezing Damascus for money to repay their investment in the conflict.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pawn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pawn. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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