1
as in to be
to take or have a certain position within a group arranged in vertical classes
my favorite pitcher ranks first in the league for number of consecutive outs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to classify
to arrange or assign according to type
most critics would rank him among our best actors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in ranking
the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement
attained the highest rank in the Freemasons
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in dignity
high position within society
remembered as a woman of rank who socialized only with other members of the elite
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
4
as in category
usually ranks plural
one of the units into which a whole is divided on the basis of a common characteristic
this book will someday join the ranks of the world's great novels
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in rampant
growing thickly and vigorously
covered with trumpet vines so rank you couldn't see the trellis beneath them
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stinking
having an unpleasant smell
smokes rank cigars that usually send me running for fresh air
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in obvious
very noticeable especially for being incorrect or bad
the article about fairy tales was full of rank errors, such as a reference to "Cinderella biting into the poisoned apple"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in absolute
having no exceptions or restrictions
a sidewalk sale of art works by rank amateurs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of rank
Katie Nadworny, Travel + Leisure, 5 Aug. 2025
Covid ranked first among deaths caused by infectious or respiratory diseases for youths under age 19, based on the report.
—Stephanie Armour, CNN Money, 5 Aug. 2025
Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025
For the role of Desmond, Wilder turned to Swanson, who in real life had also once existed among Hollywood’s loftiest ranks at the height of her career during the Silent Era of the 1920s and '30s, but had gradually — but not regretfully — followed other directions when her stardom waned.
—Scott Huver, People.com, 3 Aug. 2025
Alejandro Antonio Chafuen, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
Forcing priests to divulge confessions, while exempting all manner of secular confessors, is rank religious discrimination.
—Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rank
Verb
Austria and Finland also ranked highly for the cleanliness of their inland waters at 95.8 percent and 93.8 percent, respectively, with each having a much higher number of inland bodies of water tested (260 for Austria and 225 for Finland).
—Katie Nadworny, Travel + Leisure, 5 Aug. 2025
Covid ranked first among deaths caused by infectious or respiratory diseases for youths under age 19, based on the report.
—Stephanie Armour, CNN Money, 5 Aug. 2025
Noun
The mandate has been put in place by the governing body to allow team members of all ranks to take time off.
—Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025
For the role of Desmond, Wilder turned to Swanson, who in real life had also once existed among Hollywood’s loftiest ranks at the height of her career during the Silent Era of the 1920s and '30s, but had gradually — but not regretfully — followed other directions when her stardom waned.
—Scott Huver, People.com, 3 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Both Heritage and Fraser rank Peru in the top third of the world.
—Alejandro Antonio Chafuen, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
Forcing priests to divulge confessions, while exempting all manner of secular confessors, is rank religious discrimination.
—Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rank
Verb
-
When that is the mantra and the mindset, there is less inclination to make a certain series bigger.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Aug. 2025
-
Two daughters and five restaurants would follow, but before there was a Good Salt Restaurant Group, there had to be one.—
Amy Drew Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The lockbox is fireproof and waterproof and Underwriters Laboratory (UL) classified.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Aug. 2025
-
The best way to protect yourself from poor air quality is to stay indoors, especially when the Air Quality Index reaches above 101, which is classified as unhealthy for sensitive groups, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.—
Jack Albright,
jsonline.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Both also moved up in the rankings ahead of the U.S. Open.—
Adam Zagoria,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
-
As Shelton raised the champion trophy, he was set to move to No. 6 in the ATP rankings and No. 4 in the ATP Race to Turin.—
Lukas Weese,
New York Times,
8 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
No One Saw Coming follows a group of Black women — healers, leaders, artists, and mothers — creating a new blueprint for resistance in a society that demands their exhaustion while denying their safety and dignity.—
Daisy Auger-Domínguez,
Forbes.com,
11 Aug. 2025
-
His dream is to help seed a truly circular economy whereby his compatriots can safely, cleanly and with dignity turn garbage into gold.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
But three Scottish brothers think their familial bond is pivotal in their mission to complete the fastest-ever unsupported three-man row across the Pacific Ocean.—
Quinta Thomson,
CNN Money,
6 Aug. 2025
-
In the misty central highlands, tea plantations ripple across undulating hillsides in neat green rows, as cool mist drifts through eucalyptus groves and over winding railway tracks that curve like silver ribbons.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
5 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The smart glasses category is anchored by devices like Meta Ray-Bans, Xreal, and Viture.—
Charlie Fink,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
-
In the Pilots category, the Grand Jury Prize went to Bulldozer, written by and starring Joanna Leeds, and directed by Andrew Leeds.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The warm soil and decreasing temperatures help seeds germinate quickly, and pests and weeds aren’t as rampant as during the summer.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
7 Aug. 2025
-
If there is rampant concern about the legitimacy of the results, Paul and his team are right—boxing and sports will be dealt a serious blow.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
4 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
This is about a team with a top-10 payroll whose GM committed too stinking much of it to dogs that can’t, or won’t, pull the sled.—
Sean Keeler,
The Denver Post,
22 Dec. 2019
-
Muttaiah said the man inside the stinking manhole was working without any safety equipment — no gloves, no shoes, no supplemental oxygen.—
Joanna Slater,
Washington Post,
16 Dec. 2019
Cite this Entry
“Rank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rank. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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