1
as in rewarding
to give something as a token of gratitude or admiration for a service or achievement
we will award the top three contestants in the essay competition
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in granting
to give the ownership or benefit of (something) formally or publicly
custody of the boy was awarded to the grandparents
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of awarding
In one 2018 trial, a jury watched Guevara invoke the Fifth more than 200 times before awarding a $17 million payout to a man, Jacques Rivera, who’d spent a year less time in prison than Sierra.
—
Joe Mahr, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
According to prosecutors, Peng played a role in awarding contracts tied to LAUSD’s My Integrated Student Information System (MiSiS) between 2018 and 2022.
—Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Today’s top stories A Los Angeles jury found Instagram and YouTube liable for designing their platforms to addict young users, awarding $3 million in damages to a 20-year-old plaintiff.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
The jury deliberated for nine days before reaching their decision, awarding KGM $3 million in compensatory damages and an additional $3 million in punitive damages to the plaintiff.
—Lorena O’Neil, Rolling Stone, 26 Mar. 2026
The next day, a Los Angeles jury found Meta and Google’s YouTube negligent in the design of their platforms, awarding almost $6 million in damages to a single plaintiff.
—Carolina Rossini, The Conversation, 26 Mar. 2026
Prior to the 2024 season, the Cubs lured Craig Counsell from the Brewers by awarding him a five-year, $40 million contract, a record total for a manager.
—Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
The university will merge the linguistics department and the world languages, literatures, and cultures department, and eventually stop awarding linguistics degrees.
—Jessica Ma, Dallas Morning News, 20 Mar. 2026
Employers — and ultimately their workers — cannot pay the bills that the arbitrators are awarding.
—James Gelfand, STAT, 20 Mar. 2026
Joe Mahr, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
According to prosecutors, Peng played a role in awarding contracts tied to LAUSD’s My Integrated Student Information System (MiSiS) between 2018 and 2022.
—Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Today’s top stories A Los Angeles jury found Instagram and YouTube liable for designing their platforms to addict young users, awarding $3 million in damages to a 20-year-old plaintiff.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
The jury deliberated for nine days before reaching their decision, awarding KGM $3 million in compensatory damages and an additional $3 million in punitive damages to the plaintiff.
—Lorena O’Neil, Rolling Stone, 26 Mar. 2026
The next day, a Los Angeles jury found Meta and Google’s YouTube negligent in the design of their platforms, awarding almost $6 million in damages to a single plaintiff.
—Carolina Rossini, The Conversation, 26 Mar. 2026
Prior to the 2024 season, the Cubs lured Craig Counsell from the Brewers by awarding him a five-year, $40 million contract, a record total for a manager.
—Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
The university will merge the linguistics department and the world languages, literatures, and cultures department, and eventually stop awarding linguistics degrees.
—Jessica Ma, Dallas Morning News, 20 Mar. 2026
Employers — and ultimately their workers — cannot pay the bills that the arbitrators are awarding.
—James Gelfand, STAT, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for awarding
Verb
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Working with a financial adviser experienced in retirement planning can help bring those pieces together and ensure your retirement years are rewarding.—
Bruce Helmer,
Twin Cities,
28 Mar. 2026
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Her development is rewarding for the 15th-year Montverde coach.—
Chris Hays,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The county issued a permanent custody order after a hearing in September 2021, granting McKnight sole legal and physical custody of the children.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
1 Apr. 2026
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Because of the enormous stakes of granting an ESA exemption, there’s supposed to be an extremely high bar to clear it, such as active military operations in the Gulf being hurt by species protections, Parenteau said.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Browne’s family is planning an event honoring him in mid-May.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
31 Mar. 2026
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The Hitchcock classic Strangers on a Train will serve as the festival’s closing night selection, honoring the film’s 75th anniversary.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The pair are chaos agents who, in conferring the benefit of sudden wealth, lure the recipients into corruption.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
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In my view, by conferring this title on Summers, Harvard is signaling that powerful men can outlast gross misconduct with their honorifics intact.—
Yana van der Meulen Rodgers,
The Conversation,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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After the hearing, Gorman’s family released a statement commending the judge for detaining Medina.—
Madeline Buckley,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
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Bhattacharya has visited the Atlanta campus, sent emails commending the CDC staff and thanking them for their work, and extended telework accommodations in his first weeks on the job.—
Pien Huang,
NPR,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Awarding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/awarding. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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