PLEDGES Synonyms: 64 Similar and Opposite Words

pledges 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of pledge

as in commits

to obligate by prior agreement I would love to go to dinner with you, but I've pledged myself to a play with my parents that night

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

reneges

as in deposits

to leave as a guarantee of repayment of a loan pledged their house against the loan

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in promises

to make a solemn declaration of intent I pledge that I will abide by all of the rules of this organization

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pledges

2 of 2

noun

plural of pledge

as in guarantees

something given or held to assure that the giver will keep a promise I was required to leave my keys as a pledge that I would bring the car back

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in vows

a person's solemn declaration that he or she will do or not do something made a pledge to quit smoking

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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 pledges

Verb

The African National Congress’ 2026 local government elections manifesto pledges free basic services to nearly 30 million people — water, electricity, sanitation, garbage removal. — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 24 Aug. 2026 The developer pledges to build a public plaza and a new CTA bus stop. — Lauren Victory, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026 Becerra vehemently pledges to do that and points to his successful record as attorney general blocking the president’s policies in court. — Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026 Ominously, the order pledges federal pressure, including from the Justice Department, to push states into overturning their own vaccine mandates. — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2026 Near the end of the story, Gardner pledges to kill his imaginary son to spare him war’s toll, but backs out upon his wish to be transformed into a noble soldier. — Literary Hub, 10 Aug. 2026 Ultimately, no matter what pledges a company or country adopts, actually making things change on the ground is what slows emissions. — Justin Worland, Time, 26 June 2026 Continue reading … POLITICS BALLOT BACKLASH — Noncitizens on voter rolls in Democrat-run state exposed as RNC chair pledges secure elections. — FOXNews.com, 8 June 2026 This year’s election themes include national reconciliation due to the fighting seen in regions such as Tigray, Oromia, and Amhara, and there is also a development theme as the government pledges to undertake major projects. — ABC News, 31 May 2026

Noun

The visiting leaders took to Kyiv pledges of further military and financial support. — ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026 This bottom line cannot be changed by misguiding community benefit agreements or voluntary pledges. — Jorge Aguilar, Baltimore Sun, 22 Aug. 2026 Sometimes as part of an initiation ritual, pledges would allegedly cut and bag the cocaine in the fraternity houses before it was sold to other students. — Forbestv, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 The industry’s promises AI companies are acutely aware of the souring views toward data centers, and several have made pledges to try and assure Americans that their buildouts will benefit the country. — Ashley Capoot,garrett Downs, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026 Those pledges were made before the artificial intelligence boom, at a time when technology companies were under pressure from employees and outside activists to do more to cut their emissions. — Matt Day, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2026 One of Hichilema’s main pledges has been to more than triple Zambia’s copper production to 3 million tons a year by the end of his final term in 2031. — Jacob Zimba, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026 The state attorney general's office said pledges cut and packaged the cocaine. — Mamie Bah, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026 Prosecutors allege the pair would regularly travel to Philadelphia or New York to procure large quantities of cocaine, which were cut and packaged at two fraternity houses — sometimes by pledges — and distributed to students across campus. — Ben Brachfeld, PEOPLE, 18 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pledges

Verb

And in the season opener, Annis and Wright went up against a pair of Class of 2027 Hurricanes commits in McArthur’s Jaylyn Jones and Sherrod Gourdine.

— Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2026
The renewal commits Verstappen to Red Bull into the next decade and continues their long-standing partnership that dates back to when the Dutchman raced in Formula 3 as a 16-year-old.

— Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of commits

Verb

Rather than dramatically changing your natural hair color, a gloss deposits tone onto the hair and can soften the appearance of gray while adding shine.

— Casey DelBasso, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
Think of it as a stamp that presses into the top layer of your skin, and deposits pigment instead of puncturing the skin thousands of times.

— Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of deposits

Verb

When those things do start happening, the scares are every bit as effective as the buildup promises.

— Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
Designed to blur and sculpt the face, the powder promises to deliver up to 24 hours of oil and shine control, while the blush is said to help achieve a smooth and natural flush of color.

— Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of promises

Noun

The seven stones on each of their wedding bands represent those seven steps and vows.

— Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 29 Aug. 2026
After the bombshell interview, a representative for the couple clarified that the private ceremony was an exchange of personal vows, while the official legal wedding took place May 19.

— Giovana Gelhoren, InStyle, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of vows

Verb

So my guess/belief/thought is that the executive trio is hoping for the best this year, but is unwilling to do anything that mortgages future seasons.

— Josh Kendall, New York Times, 9 July 2026
Those are the players in recent memory who’ve commanded the kind of draft capital that reshapes franchises — the sort of seismic move that mortgages a future and, in return, attaches expectations normally reserved for franchise-carrying superstars.

— Kristian Winfield, Hartford Courant, 22 Feb. 2026

Definition of mortgages

Noun

The trio, who founded the startup, were sued for securities fraud, common law fraud, and breach of contract.

— Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2026
The lawsuit, alleging common-law fraud, breach of contract and securities fraud, names Gomez, her mother, Mandy Teefey, and their former business partner, Daniella Pierson.

— Pilar Melendez, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of securities

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“Pledges.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pledges. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of pledges

verb

noun

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