1
as in servant
a person hired to perform household or personal services
knights being dressed for battle by their retainers
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in employee
one who works for another for wages or a salary
lifelong civil service retainers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of retainer
His work spans the Alternative department as well as the agency’s brand retainer clients.
—
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 20 Jan. 2026
But, shoppers without a glam team on retainer are impressed, too.
—Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 18 Jan. 2026
Regulars get the same attendant from visit to visit and treat them like family retainers.
—Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 17 Jan. 2026
These are common in personal injury cases, because the clients often don’t have the wherewithal to pay a lawyer’s retainer fee in advance.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for retainer
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 20 Jan. 2026
But, shoppers without a glam team on retainer are impressed, too.
—Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 18 Jan. 2026
Regulars get the same attendant from visit to visit and treat them like family retainers.
—Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 17 Jan. 2026
These are common in personal injury cases, because the clients often don’t have the wherewithal to pay a lawyer’s retainer fee in advance.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for retainer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retainer
Noun
-
That made kid gloves the perfect choice for a servant handling fine silverware, where even a fingerprint could spoil the dinner presentation.—
Scott Neuman,
NPR,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Making the Fed the servant of the White House would hobble one of the few institutions capable of limiting the overreach of a power-mad president.—
Steve Chapman,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
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However, regulatory pressure on Coupang intensified further after the e-commerce giant suffered a data breach perpetrated by a former Chinese employee in November.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Feb. 2026
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However, as our employee survey reminds us every year, people are here to serve the mission, and over the last five years our founders and staff have never wavered in their commitment to helping build a world where every person has the opportunity to live a healthy and productive life.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Soon after, Douvia’s sister, Margaret, also moved to the area and found work as a maid.—
Elijah Winkler,
Kansas City Star,
10 Feb. 2026
-
But like all good soapy murders, a body—the maid of honor’s—soon (literally) washes up, plunging the entire wedding party into delightful whodunit mayhem.—
Stephanie Bai,
The Atlantic,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
At least three people died and nearly two dozen others were injured after a building used as temporary lodgings for workers caught fire early Friday in a suburb of Hungary's capital, authorities said.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
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The warrant for Silva-Parucho, a construction worker with a pending asylum application and valid employment authorization, was therefore invalid, the judge ruled.—
Cristóbal Reyes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retainer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retainer. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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