as in lucrative
yielding a profit
graduated from school and went looking for gainful employment
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gainful
Additionally, the bill would repeal regulations for schools like the gainful employment rule, which requires institutions to demonstrate their educational offerings are sufficient to help students land well-paying jobs.
—
Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 2 June 2025
Yesterday’s pangrams were gainful, unfailing and unflagging.
—Julia Jacobs, New York Times, 19 May 2025
Or workers could simply have given up on Martinsville and moved elsewhere in search of gainful employment.
—Gordon H. Hanson, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2021
Her husband takes a stab at gainful employment with a food delivery service but quits because the wealthier class of Singaporean customers prove fussy and prone to complaining.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for gainful
Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 2 June 2025
Yesterday’s pangrams were gainful, unfailing and unflagging.
—Julia Jacobs, New York Times, 19 May 2025
Or workers could simply have given up on Martinsville and moved elsewhere in search of gainful employment.
—Gordon H. Hanson, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2021
Her husband takes a stab at gainful employment with a food delivery service but quits because the wealthier class of Singaporean customers prove fussy and prone to complaining.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for gainful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gainful
Adjective
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Developers came up with a plan to build a suburban multi-use entertainment complex around a domed stadium—one that would keep out the snow and wind and allow for lucrative events year-round.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
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Our expert take The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a no-annual-fee card that earns generous cash-back on everyday purchases and a lucrative welcome bonus.—
Jasmin Suknanan,
CNBC,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Slowly, Castro’s cronies built a kleptocracy that proved ruinous to the Cuban people, but hugely profitable to them.—
Quico Toro,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
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The commercial success of M-Pesa — the mobile money unit of Kenya’s biggest mobile network operator Safaricom — has convinced investors and executives that mobile money can be a profitable financial platform.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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For fans who have followed every frame of the UK rollout from afar, BritBox is delivering exactly the kind of prestige British period drama that makes the subscription worthwhile.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
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The Ojai Valley Land Conservancy is putting on its third annual tour, on a smaller scale than Theodore Payne’s longstanding event, but with plenty of worthwhile stops.—
Pedro Moura,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gainful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gainful. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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