RAKES Synonyms: 111 Similar and Opposite Words

rakes 1 of 3

noun (1)

plural of rake

as in perverts

a person who has sunk below the normal moral standard was often spotted in sordid places that reinforced a reputation as one of the city's most notorious rakes

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

saints

rakes

2 of 3

noun (2)

plural of rake

as in slopes

the degree to which something rises up from a position level with the horizon the floor of the auditorium doesn't have much of a rake, so sightlines for spectators in the rear are not good

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

rakes

3 of 3

verb

present tense third-person singular of rake

as in searches

to look through (as a place) carefully or thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something he raked repeatedly through his luggage, hoping that in one of the bags he would find his lost passport before his flight's departure

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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 rakes

Noun

The smells of jerk chicken, brats and hot dogs filled the air but the vibe of a festival quickly disappeared as attendees carried garden rakes, bleach and diapers. — Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026 Tools and tool parts, including wrenches, chainsaw blades, rakes and sledgehammers also appear, along with electronics like smartphones, television cameras, radar apparatuses, video monitors and parts for manufacturing electronics. — Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026 Cut, trim and prune with loppers, shears, snips and more, dig and weed with scoops, trowels, weeders and more and take and cultivate with cultivators and rakes. — ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026 Along the Cape Fear River in North Carolina, Audubon is replenishing shell rakes — beds of old oyster shells where the oystercatchers nest. — Michael Casey, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026 Red Cross volunteers handed out supplies such as gloves, rakes, tarps, and more to homeowners. — Lauren Victory, CBS News, 26 June 2026 Once the grass is laid out, workers tug and pull at the surfaces with rakes to fasten it and remove any dead clippings with leaf blowers. — Melanie Anzidei, New York Times, 8 May 2026 Old rakes, spoons and other tools can also find new roles in the garden. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2026 Tool and Scrap Metal Garden Art Old rakes, spoons or tools that have seen better days can turn into quirky garden decor. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 21 Apr. 2026

Verb

Then, as the afternoon sunshine rakes across the river valley, the group will return to the Birdwing—where canvas and paints await, according to a news release. — News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026 Participants are encouraged to bring their own shovel, gloves, and rakes as limited tools will be provided at the event. — Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025 Owners often need to brush them weekly, if not daily, during peak shedding seasons, with coat rakes or shedding tools recommended to keep tangles at bay. — Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rakes

Noun

This blatant fealty over objectivity perverts the process by choosing personal loyalists instead of independent public servants.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2026
This blatant expression of fealty over objectivity perverts the process by choosing personal loyalists instead of independent public servants.

— Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of perverts

Noun

Forecasters warn Moke could drop up to 10 inches of rain on the Big Island and 15 in isolated areas, triggering life-threatening flooding and mudslides on steep, storm-scarred slopes.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026
Five to 10 inches of rain are expected on the Big Island, with up to 15 inches possible on the central and eastern slopes.

— Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of slopes

Verb

As each sister searches for love, purpose, and freedom, their choices begin to reshape not only their own futures, but the lives of everyone around them.

— Zac Ntim, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2026
Siddhartha At the heart of this novel, which is told in simple, sincere prose, is the spiritual journey of a man named Siddhartha who searches for self-discovery throughout the years of his life.

— Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of searches

Noun

The product exploded, generating trillions and minting a new class of crypto degenerates who were willing to take massive risks that, occasionally, resulted in millions.

— Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 17 Mar. 2026
In all vertebrates, the thymus degenerates very rapidly with age.

— Mallory Locklear, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026

Definition of degenerates

Noun

Cows amble in the distance along the inclines of meadows; their grazing helps control invasive plants.

— Kalpana Mohan, Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2026
Bert McCarty, a Clemson University professor of turfgrass science and management, said golfers like how top courses are so different — from incorporating the ocean in places near beaches to relying on inclines in the mountains.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of inclines

Verb

Another founder, Sheridan Clayborne, built an AI agent that combs the internet for the best credit card and banking deals, netting him thousands of dollars.

— Margaux MacColl, Vanity Fair, 14 July 2026
Zayas also combs through the dark web, a criminal haven on the internet where anonymous threat actors try to cause real-world harm.

— Heather Abbott, CBS News, 7 June 2026

Definition of combs

Noun

Putin will eventually leave office, whether by death, illness, or—against all observable inclinations—stepping aside.

— Julian G. Waller, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2026
People with gene variants that affect these inclinations may also be at a higher risk of developing obesity and type 2 diabetes, researchers found.

— Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 28 July 2026

Definition of inclinations

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Style

“Rakes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rakes. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of rakes

noun (1)

noun (2)

verb

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