reclaim

1
as in to regain
to get again in one's possession she reclaimed the championship title after losing it last year

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to rehabilitate
to make better in behavior or character a program to reclaim juvenile offenders by requiring them to do community service

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in to recycle
to obtain (a raw material) by separating it from a by-product or waste product after reclaiming the glycerin from used vegetable oil, you can use the oil to create a fuel that burns cleaner than regular gasoline

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb reclaim contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of reclaim are deliver, ransom, redeem, rescue, and save. While all these words mean "to set free from confinement or danger," reclaim suggests a bringing back to a former state or condition of someone or something abandoned or debased.

reclaimed long-abandoned farms

Where would deliver be a reasonable alternative to reclaim?

While the synonyms deliver and reclaim are close in meaning, deliver implies release usually of a person from confinement, temptation, slavery, or suffering.

delivered his people from bondage

When could ransom be used to replace reclaim?

The words ransom and reclaim can be used in similar contexts, but ransom specifically applies to buying out of captivity.

tried to ransom the kidnap victim

When is it sensible to use redeem instead of reclaim?

The meanings of redeem and reclaim largely overlap; however, redeem implies releasing from bondage or penalties by giving what is demanded or necessary.

job training designed to redeem school dropouts from chronic unemployment

In what contexts can rescue take the place of reclaim?

Although the words rescue and reclaim have much in common, rescue implies freeing from imminent danger by prompt or vigorous action.

rescued the crew of a sinking ship

When can save be used instead of reclaim?

While in some cases nearly identical to reclaim, save may replace any of the foregoing terms; it may further imply a preserving or maintaining for usefulness or continued existence.

an operation that saved my life

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 reclaim The Israelis have wiped out Hezbollah’s leadership and given Lebanon a chance to reclaim its sovereignty. Elliott Abrams, Foreign Affairs, 7 Feb. 2025 Instead, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, one of Turkey’s founding fathers, reorganized the remnants of the Ottoman army, launched the Turkish War of Independence, and reclaimed the territory that would become modern Turkey. Sefa Secen & Serhun Al / Made By History, TIME, 7 Feb. 2025 But reclaiming this year’s pick seems to have given the Bulls the luxury of remaining in their comfort zone of mediocrity. Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2025 How could this play out? Dr. Beckley, Dr. Paal, and Robert Ross, a professor of political science at Boston College and expert on Chinese security policy and U.S.-China relations, all see Mr. Trump’s desire to reclaim the Panama Canal as showmanship. Nate Iglehart, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for reclaim 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reclaim
Verb
  • Calling employees back to physical offices and scrapping telework has regained momentum in the private sector after the pandemic ushered in an era of remote work.
    Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Feb. 2025
  • And over the course of the experiment, McCullough's legs regained some function.
    Jon Hamilton, NPR, 6 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Dogs rehabilitated All the dogs found at the location were placed in different rescues after they were found to start their rehabilitation process, according to police.
    Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 4 Feb. 2025
  • Instead, county records show, one of the existing tanks was rehabilitated.
    Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The mulch is recycled from other city projects and brought to the site.
    Noah Mitchell, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
  • Officially, the tax was meant to cover the cost of recycling and disposing of vehicles at the end of their lifespan while also reducing the impact on the environment.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 31 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Now Strickland will face Du Plessis in a middleweight title rematch at UFC 312, and the American has enlisted the help of Pereira in a bid to recapture the title at 185 pounds.
    Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025
  • The East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office subsequently said Davis was recaptured, according to WAFB.
    Liam Quinn, People.com, 27 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Milk caps can be redeemed for 5 cents each through a Kemps promotion.
    Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
  • Just show a valid photo ID in-store or redeem through the Firehouse Subs app or website.
    Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 7 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Police recovered a loaded Cobra .38 Special from the scene.
    Elizabeth Keogh, New York Daily News, 19 Feb. 2025
  • If not, then the beloved agency that dares to explore may never recover.
    Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 18 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • There are plans to try to return Friday to retrieve the remaining two dogs.
    Hanna Park and Mary Gilbert, CNN, 14 Feb. 2025
  • At least 20 people either drowned trying to retrieve the aid or were killed when pallets landed on them, according to Gaza health authorities.
    Jane Arraf, NPR, 14 Feb. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near reclaim

Cite this Entry

“Reclaim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reclaim. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on reclaim

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!