During droughts, farmers are barely able to eke out a living.
Source: tatoeba (615446)
Eke
/iːk/
Synonyms for "eke" (9 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: also, augment, earn, extend, prolong.
- Sentence evidence is available for eke, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from derived_reverse, opengloss.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "eke".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "eke"
Keep "eke" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "eke" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "eke", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "eke" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
Sample sentences
25 total sentences available.
In 2017, in Jammu, local BJP leaders launched a campaign demanding all Rohingya who live in slums and eke out their living by doing menial jobs be expelled from the city.
Source: tatoeba (10021214)
Since my teenage years, I have enjoyed the Dune franchise of Frank Herbert—the literature and movies. The setting is many thousands of years into the future, as humankind has expanded throughout the galaxy. The official language of the Imperium is called Galach, a descendant of Earth's English, Russian, and other languages. Meanwhile, on the desert planet Arrakis, the Fremen eke a living as desert people. The Fremen language is a descendant of Earth's Arabic.
Source: tatoeba (10515788)
Despite coronavirus lockdown measures, people who work in the informal sector are forced to leave their homes to eke out enough money to support themselves and their families.
Source: tatoeba (12054877)
Showing 4 of 25 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "eke"?
Closest matches include also, augment, earn, extend, prolong.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "eke"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.