1
as in servants
a person hired to perform household or personal services
knights being dressed for battle by their retainers
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in employees
one who works for another for wages or a salary
lifelong civil service retainers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of retainers
How To Improve Your Soil's Moisture Retention A short-term solution for small areas or containers with hydrophobic soil is a commercial wetting agent, often called water retainers or penetrants.
—
Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026
Wearing a night guard can help support better sleep, healthier teeth and reduced jaw discomfort and custom retainers help maintain alignment and protect your smile.
—Tory Johnson, ABC News, 26 Mar. 2026
Regulars get the same attendant from visit to visit and treat them like family retainers.
—Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 17 Jan. 2026
Most of the contracts are retainers — with the lobbying firms receiving an equal payment each quarter.
—Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 22 Dec. 2025
Domestically, Roosevelt’s progressive reforms—breaking up dozens of monopolies, modifying railroad rates, setting aside public lands for conservation—cut against the long run of industrial oligarchy enjoyed by assorted oil, timber, and coal kings in collusion with their congressional retainers.
—Literary Hub, 16 Dec. 2025
Old Hamlet’s retainers acquired crumbling public housing estates turning out occupants enabling them to build showy apartments for cash buyers.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2025
Or, Wu suggested, instead of opting for clear plastic aligners, a person could get metal braces or retainers.
—Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 25 Aug. 2025
Avoiding flat retainers and aligning SOWs to key outcomes will be highly respected by an investor who has operational expertise.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026
Wearing a night guard can help support better sleep, healthier teeth and reduced jaw discomfort and custom retainers help maintain alignment and protect your smile.
—Tory Johnson, ABC News, 26 Mar. 2026
Regulars get the same attendant from visit to visit and treat them like family retainers.
—Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 17 Jan. 2026
Most of the contracts are retainers — with the lobbying firms receiving an equal payment each quarter.
—Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 22 Dec. 2025
Domestically, Roosevelt’s progressive reforms—breaking up dozens of monopolies, modifying railroad rates, setting aside public lands for conservation—cut against the long run of industrial oligarchy enjoyed by assorted oil, timber, and coal kings in collusion with their congressional retainers.
—Literary Hub, 16 Dec. 2025
Old Hamlet’s retainers acquired crumbling public housing estates turning out occupants enabling them to build showy apartments for cash buyers.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2025
Or, Wu suggested, instead of opting for clear plastic aligners, a person could get metal braces or retainers.
—Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 25 Aug. 2025
Avoiding flat retainers and aligning SOWs to key outcomes will be highly respected by an investor who has operational expertise.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retainers
Noun
-
In Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Telangana, jogti hijras, jogins, or jogappas are trans women who devote themselves in temples as special servants to the goddess Yellamma.—
Charles Preston,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
28 May 2026
-
As previously noted, one of the gifts of Russian greats that Saunders most celebrates is their way of locating complex truths in the stuff of ordinary lives—their towns and farms, and their families, their servants; their animals.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
Noun
-
The nine missing people are all employees of the mill.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
-
Washington’s wife, Toni Washington, criticized jail employees for not searching inmates more thoroughly for drugs, and for placing Asaiah in a cell with an inmate who had been caught smuggling drugs into the jail before.—
Theresa Clift
May 29,
Sacbee.com,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
While teachers unions have gotten the most attention, the law also affects many other public sector unions, including those that represent bus drivers, janitors, cafeteria workers and maintenance workers.—
Scott Travis,
Sun Sentinel,
24 May 2026
-
As workers and retirees decide where to live, states that have low tax and regulatory burdens, targeted relief, and stronger budget discipline tend to gain residents, income, and reduce costs for families.—
Nicole Huyer,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retainers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retainers. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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