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
Shira Li Bartov, Sun Sentinel, 9 Apr. 2025
What began as economic policy is rapidly devolving into diplomatic grudge-holding, with everyday items becoming pawns in an escalating game of international spite.
—Jackie Snow, Quartz, 7 Apr. 2025
Alex Andrejev, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025
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
Early in her tenure, after saying in a television interview that Jerusalem should not be used as a political pawn by the United States and may become a Palestinian capital, in addition to the capital of Israel, Horvilleur was harassed by a vocal minority of ultra-conservative French Jews.
—Shira Li Bartov, Sun Sentinel, 9 Apr. 2025
What began as economic policy is rapidly devolving into diplomatic grudge-holding, with everyday items becoming pawns in an escalating game of international spite.
—Jackie Snow, Quartz, 7 Apr. 2025
Verb
Almeida, Denn and Eric Tyrrell, then a coworker of Almeida’s who had tried to pawn the coins, were ultimately arrested and indicted in Norfolk County Superior Court.
—Alex Andrejev, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025
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
-
The female moths deposit their almost invisible eggs in places where spider webs are likely to form, especially rotten logs, tree hollows and rock cavities.—
Elizabeth Weise,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
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Once the mating process has ended, female cicadas deposit their eggs in tree branches.—
Taylor Johnston,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
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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
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Conversely, Soto was like the guy who hocks his wedding ring before the separation agreement is signed.—
Greg Marotta,
New York Daily News,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Rather than mortgaging the farm system for a name like Cease or Castillo, acquiring Fedde would be safer, albeit a much lower reward, for Cleveland.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
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This led to a seven year stretch of LA being without a first-round pick, that was in theory expected to mortgage their future.—
Tyler Small,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pawn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pawn. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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