achieve

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb achieve contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of achieve are accomplish, discharge, effect, execute, fulfill, and perform. While all these words mean "to carry out or into effect," achieve adds to accomplish the implication of conquered difficulties.

achieve greatness

When might accomplish be a better fit than achieve?

While in some cases nearly identical to achieve, accomplish stresses the successful completion of a process rather than the means of carrying it out.

accomplished everything they set out to do

In what contexts can discharge take the place of achieve?

The meanings of discharge and achieve largely overlap; however, discharge implies execution and completion of appointed duties or tasks.

discharged his duties

How are the words effect and achieve related?

Effect adds to achieve an emphasis on the inherent force in the agent capable of surmounting obstacles.

effected sweeping reforms

When could execute be used to replace achieve?

The words execute and achieve are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, execute stresses the carrying out of what exists in plan or in intent.

executed the hit-and-run

When is fulfill a more appropriate choice than achieve?

The synonyms fulfill and achieve are sometimes interchangeable, but fulfill implies a complete realization of ends or possibilities.

fulfilled their ambitions

When would perform be a good substitute for achieve?

In some situations, the words perform and achieve are roughly equivalent. However, perform implies action that follows established patterns or procedures or fulfills agreed-upon requirements and often connotes special skill.

performed gymnastics

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 achieve As a starter, Wentz achieved a 35-32-1 record with the Eagles. Justin Grasso, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Aug. 2025 Tech giants taking on Hollywood legacy studios made headlines all the way around over the late-August weekend as Apple Original Film’s record-breaking F1: The Original Movie achieved a remarkable milestone in zooming past the $600 million mark globally. Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 24 Aug. 2025 Some founders previously pushed back against the trend, telling CNBC that the views are outdated and unnecessary to achieve success. Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 23 Aug. 2025 Help students achieve upward economic mobility, measured by post-graduation earnings, wealth-building potential, and employment outcomes. Jamie Merisotis, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for achieve
Recent Examples of Synonyms for achieve
Verb
  • Announced in 2020 and launched two years later, Angel City swiftly attained a following in a notoriously hard-to-impress city thanks to a deep bench of celebrity co-owners like Jennifer Garner and Eva Longoria.
    Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2025
  • The company's flagship Q12 drone attained the record after flying in a 600-meter-wide (1,969-foot-wide) orbit at about 50 meters (164 ft) in altitude autonomously at around 50 km/h (31 mph), reported Flying magazine.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 25 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Reserve a table and get food and drink specials – league commissioners get $50 Kickback Cards, other team owners get $5 – and have a chance to win $1,000.
    Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 31 Aug. 2025
  • Instead of making Terminator 3, Scott turned his attention to Black Hawk Down, which hit theaters in 2001 and won two Oscars for Best Film Editing and Best Sound.
    Daniel S. Levine, People.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • In Texas, the five-seat GOP gerrymander assumes that the party will keep gaining ground with Latino voters, and it’s being cheered on by a party chairman who immigrated to the United States from India.
    David Weigel, semafor.com, 22 Aug. 2025
  • Georgia was the only state where Democrats outperformed Biden's 2020 total with young voters, gaining by 7 percent with voters under 30, according to NPR.
    Alex J. Rouhandeh, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Media publicity fulfills several business purposes apart from visibility: Building Credibility: Being featured in a top publication can establish credibility with customers and foster loyalty.
    Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025
  • Federal Reserve governors are expected to fulfill 14-year terms.
    Curtis Bunn, NBC news, 28 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 26 Aug. 2025
  • Finch was shot and killed by police responding to a swatting call Barriss made.
    Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • When culture starts performing alignment instead of living it, most companies reach for fixes: tighter messaging, new values, more playbooks.
    Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
  • The piece was to be performed at a church near McVeigh's execution site in Terre Haute, Indiana, then recorded and played on the radio so that McVeigh would have a chance to hear it.
    Nate Anderson, ArsTechnica, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The warrant reviewed by The Bee does not state what, if anything, was ultimately seized, nor when the warrant was executed.
    Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2025
  • The two racing teams allege that NASCAR executed monopolistic practices.
    Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • While doing so, Oasis had built early momentum with strong consumer involvement creating repeat sales and brand advocacy.
    Malana VanTyler, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025
  • In the same brown-on-golden-yellow as before, the replacement was the name of the restaurant against a horizontal background whose shape was supposed to connote a barrel, but really didn't until someone told you.
    Neal Rubin, Freep.com, 28 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Achieve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/achieve. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.

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