1
as in derivative
taken or created from something original or basic
history textbooks are secondary sources for historical information and do not represent original research
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in minor
of little or less value or merit
we need to focus on getting the groceries bought and the rent paid—everything else is secondary
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in dependent
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of secondary
Kevin J. Farmer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Sep. 2025
Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy seemed to discount the Ravens' secondary despite the group being comprised of multiple first-round draft picks.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 12 Sep. 2025
James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025
In addition to causing breathing difficulties, severe RSV increases the risk of a secondary bacterial infection, Campbell adds.
—Tara Haelle, Scientific American, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for secondary
Adjective
The big play was quarterback Kainan Manna (13-for-18, 168 yards, 2 TDs) finding Jaeveyion Allen wide open behind the secondary for the 56-yard score.
—Kevin J. Farmer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Sep. 2025
Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy seemed to discount the Ravens' secondary despite the group being comprised of multiple first-round draft picks.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
The other issue the Cowboys are facing is with the secondary, and the points that opposing offenses are putting up.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025
In addition to causing breathing difficulties, severe RSV increases the risk of a secondary bacterial infection, Campbell adds.
—Tara Haelle, Scientific American, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for secondary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for secondary
Adjective
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Pending review of the documents, the two groups could file a derivative lawsuit, which allows shareholders to act on behalf of a company and sue the corporation’s own directors and officers, as well as other third parties who may have harmed the company.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
25 Sep. 2025
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Revise Visa Quotas Exclude derivative family members from the annual cap so that more principal investors can qualify—boosting capital injection without exceeding visa limits.—
Andy J. Semotiuk,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The final documents were published with minor edits earlier this month.—
Jennifer Van Grove,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Sep. 2025
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The airlines aren't just asking for minor tweaks.—
Christopher Elliott,
USA Today,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Extra compensation may be available for additional dependents.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
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Natalia’s story grabbed the attention of the public in 2019 when Indiana prosecutors leveled charges against the Barnetts for allegedly neglecting a dependent.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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One swing, one timely hit, can change the trajectory of a series, just as an error or inferior defense can unravel a series.—
Annie Heilbrunn,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Sep. 2025
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But compared to the vast amount of data available to open-source models, in-house applications will always have inferior answers, Emmert said.—
Nino Paoli,
Fortune,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
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For instance, Gilbert was into extreme weather, Kelly said, and had subordinates brief him on terms such as bombogenesis.—
Stefan Fatsis,
The Atlantic,
13 Sep. 2025
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In pursuing first the transport minister’s former subordinates and then the man himself, Putin was deploying a strategy that has also been seen elsewhere, including at the defense ministry.—
ANDREI KOLESNIKOV,
Foreign Affairs,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Victoria, a junior at La Jolla High School and leader of the Environmental Action Club on campus, was joined by three of her LJHS peers.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Sep. 2025
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In the first half of Baylor's 48-7 win at CPA, the five-star junior running back juked a defender and smoothly hurdled clean over another on his way to the end zone, but the hurdle — which isn't allowed in high school football — drew a penalty which negated the play.—
Jacob Shames,
Nashville Tennessean,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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While seven of the state’s nine members of the House voted for it, Moulton and Pressley, mean-spirited critics of Kirk, joined the 58 Democrats who voted against it.—
Peter Lucas,
Boston Herald,
25 Sep. 2025
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At a mean photon number of 11, the researchers measured bit-flip times ranging between 33 and 60 minutes at a 95 percent confidence interval.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
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But on one subject, Reese’s honesty bubbles to the surface.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Sep. 2025
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Unlike Boggs and Wade, whose subjects had commanded biographical and scholarly attention for decades, Richardson was breaking trail from the beginning, writing a life that had never been written before.—
Megan Marshall
September 25,
Literary Hub,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Secondary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/secondary. Accessed 28 Sep. 2025.
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