as in subsidy
a sum of money allotted for a specific use by official or formal action
the committee receives an annual subvention from the foundation to run the museum
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Recent Examples of subvention
It’s needed, Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West contends, to shore up vital health care services threatened by reductions in federal subventions and the state budget’s own deficits.
—
Dan Walters, Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2026
Indeed, Cold War–era American institutions and personalities who promoted the ideal of aesthetic autonomy while trying to dissuade writers and artists from left-wing politics and propagandizing (sometimes with the help of CIA subventions) represented a glaring contradiction.
—Pankaj Mishra, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
But maintaining these subventions after the U.S. midterm elections, especially if Republicans win control of the House of Representatives as expected, will likely be difficult.
—Melinda Haring, Foreign Affairs, 8 Nov. 2022
The best-case scenario: the government can step in to bear some of the banks’ burden by introducing an interest subvention scheme (where the government bears some of the interest cost on loans).
—Joydeep Ghosh, Quartz India, 1 Oct. 2020
When paternal subventions were not forthcoming, Neruda hit on the idea of securing a diplomatic post abroad through Chile’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
—Benjamin Kunkel, The New Republic, 2 July 2018
Without subventions from Washington, Tesla’s market capitalization never would have even briefly exceeded GM’s.
—George Will, National Review, 11 Oct. 2017
Dan Walters, Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2026
Indeed, Cold War–era American institutions and personalities who promoted the ideal of aesthetic autonomy while trying to dissuade writers and artists from left-wing politics and propagandizing (sometimes with the help of CIA subventions) represented a glaring contradiction.
—Pankaj Mishra, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
But maintaining these subventions after the U.S. midterm elections, especially if Republicans win control of the House of Representatives as expected, will likely be difficult.
—Melinda Haring, Foreign Affairs, 8 Nov. 2022
The best-case scenario: the government can step in to bear some of the banks’ burden by introducing an interest subvention scheme (where the government bears some of the interest cost on loans).
—Joydeep Ghosh, Quartz India, 1 Oct. 2020
When paternal subventions were not forthcoming, Neruda hit on the idea of securing a diplomatic post abroad through Chile’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
—Benjamin Kunkel, The New Republic, 2 July 2018
Without subventions from Washington, Tesla’s market capitalization never would have even briefly exceeded GM’s.
—George Will, National Review, 11 Oct. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subvention
Noun
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As many agencies have limited how noncitizens can qualify for programs — like housing subsidies or commercial trucking licenses — the SBA moved to do the same.—
Alina Selyukh,
NPR,
12 June 2026
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In Miami-Dade, public housing is owned and operated by the county, while affordable and workforce housing are privately owned and operated, with developers receiving government incentives and subsidies to keep rents at affordable levels for different income tiers.—
Catherine Odom,
Miami Herald,
12 June 2026
Noun
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The $250,000 project was funded in part by a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Office of the Budget and the Green Family Foundation.—
Madeleine Wright,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
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While firms like Intel have accepted grants from the US government in exchange for stakes, experts questioned whether a similar arrangement could fly in the AI industry.—
Eleanor Mueller,
semafor.com,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
The whole issue of restocking vacant allotments?—
Andrew McKean,
Outdoor Life,
10 June 2026
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The Lower Basin states recently proposed slashing their water allotments by about 20% annually and asked Upper Basin states to commit to permanent cuts to ensure water keeps flowing south.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subvention.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subvention. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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