Synonyms of make ends meet

make ends meet

phrase

as in cope

to meet one's day-to-day needs

The couple's income was just enough to make ends meet each month.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cope
• do
• get on
• survive
• make out
• manage
• get along
• make do
• get by
• make shift
• fare
• shift
• afford
• carry on
• fend for oneself
• eke out
• last
• scrape (by or through)
• contrive
• scrape (out)
• scrounge
• squeeze
• swing
• wring
• wrest

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fail
• fall short
• collapse
• flounder
• decline
• slump
• peter (out)
• give up
• wane
• fizzle

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of make ends meet

The increase is partly driven by rising costs of living and broader problems for families in making ends meet. — Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 19 Sep. 2026

Augustave took the food delivery job with DoorDash to help the family make ends meet after losing his TPS this summer. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2026

At the time, Mullally was rising to fame after two seasons of Will & Grace, while Offerman was still struggling to make ends meet and living on a couch in a friend’s basement. — Giovana Gelhoren, InStyle, 15 Sep. 2026

Many also use rewards points to pay for essentials or rely on credit cards to make ends meet. — Muskaan Arshad, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2026