rights 1 of 2

Definition of rightsnext
plural of right
1
as in privileges
something to which one has a just claim everyone has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in claims
an entitlement to something what right do you have to tell us what to do?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

rights

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of right

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 rights
Noun
The Arkansas Supreme Court has a unique role as the defender of the rights particular to Arkansans. Arkansas Online, 16 Feb. 2026 The real purpose of the campaign was to draw attention to the violation of Japanese Americans’ Constitutional rights. Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 16 Feb. 2026 Teams with geographical, cultural or historical ties to a country are often granted rights in those territories. Tom Chitty, CNBC, 15 Feb. 2026 In other dealing, Movistar+ has taken Spanish pay TV/SVOD and Spafax inflight rights. John Hopewell, Variety, 15 Feb. 2026 California has regained its bragging-rights ranking as the world’s fourth-largest economy. Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 15 Feb. 2026 Yet the government can still gradually erode rights, shaping citizens into compliant instruments of the state if left unchecked. Ken Silverstein, Twin Cities, 15 Feb. 2026 What are my rights to protest and record law enforcement? Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026 In early 2025, Amazon MGM Studios beat out other studios in paying $40 million for global rights to the film, both theatrical and streaming (the pact also includes additional material that will be seen on Amazon’s Prime Video). Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 8 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rights
Noun
  • The Bank of England, chartered in London in 1694, was a private joint-stock business but one with special privileges and duties.
    Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 15 Feb. 2026
  • Since their computer privileges are highly restrictive, experts believe Holmes and others hand over social media management to advisers outside of prison.
    Andrew Zucker, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Those who make these claims apparently haven't been paying much attention these past four years, in particular to which side (hint, Russia) has been forced to shed most of that blood.
    Bradley Gitz, Arkansas Online, 16 Feb. 2026
  • Tenuous evidence of mass exodus Sensor Tower’s user data more fundamentally seems to suggest that beyond anecdotal claims, users have largely been unable to identify tangible changes in TikTok’s American operations, or at least, not enough to meaningfully shift user sentiment.
    Matthew Chin, CNBC, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • There are so many reasons to be mad; the mostly baseless and endless attacks on higher education, the dismantling of life-saving research, ICE, the subverting of policy that redresses shameful social harms.
    Wendy Nelson Espeland, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The district judge declined her jurisdictional prerogatives, saying that the case was too serious to be settled in a magistrates’ court and must be heard by a Crown Court, which deals with the most severe criminal offenses.
    Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
  • That goal neatly aligns with the record industry’s shifting prerogatives.
    Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • The nation was to be purged of continual sin not indeed all of its own doing—due partly to its inheritance; and yet a sin, a negation that gave the world the right to sneer at the pretensions of this republic.
    James Folta, Literary Hub, 23 Jan. 2026
  • This action comedy is audacious in portraying the pretensions of show business.
    Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Replacing your roof not only improves safety and performance, but also boosts curb appeal and increases your home’s value.
    TIMEPROOF USA Roofing Company, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Feb. 2026
  • The data is clear that, over time, exercise improves both mental health and cognitive abilities such as problem-solving, Bigliassi said.
    Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Nothing betters the gift of time.
    Brie Stimson , Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Stay prepared for those just-in-case scenarios by stocking everything from itch creams and allergy meds to cold and headache remedies.
    Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 29 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Rights.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rights. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.

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