ˈhī-(ə-)ˌrär-kē
as in ladder
a scheme of rank or order
honesty sits at the top of my hierarchy of values
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hierarchy
Heterosexual family life is central to the Dorf’s hierarchy, complete with traditional patriarchy.
—
Hannah Gold, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2025
Before the Harlem Renaissance had a name, Jessie Redmon Fauset was already drafting its blueprint—curating its voices, refining its vision, and authoring novels that quietly destabilized the racial and gendered hierarchies of American letters.
—Glory Edim
august 27, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2025
Staff and players would also like certainty on what is happening, but silence from the club hierarchy has fed speculation over what might happen.
—Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025
Thanks to their daily interactions with the Highland fold, the duo can give guests all the details about the cows’ social hierarchy and distinct personalities.
—Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 23 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hierarchy
Hannah Gold, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2025
Before the Harlem Renaissance had a name, Jessie Redmon Fauset was already drafting its blueprint—curating its voices, refining its vision, and authoring novels that quietly destabilized the racial and gendered hierarchies of American letters.
—Glory Edim
august 27, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2025
Staff and players would also like certainty on what is happening, but silence from the club hierarchy has fed speculation over what might happen.
—Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025
Thanks to their daily interactions with the Highland fold, the duo can give guests all the details about the cows’ social hierarchy and distinct personalities.
—Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 23 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hierarchy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hierarchy
Noun
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Other items listed in the top 20 product groups responsible for injuries included exercise equipment, cans, basketballs, ladders, desks, rugs and bathtubs.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Sep. 2025
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The Oak Island Lighthouse was completed in 1958 and requires climbing up a series of ship ladders that reach more than 120 feet up to the top.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Taylor and Wasserman both said Milwaukee County could not single-handedly solve the entire state's arts funding problem and that responsibility for Milwaukee's ranking lies in the state Legislature.—
Claudia Levens,
jsonline.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Financially, Mexico also fares well, though safety and air quality continue to drag down its overall Quality of Life ranking.—
Laura Begley Bloom,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Memory and storage options scale with the processor.—
Jorge Jimenez,
PC Magazine,
10 Sep. 2025
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Anderson’s ensemble—Regina Hall, Wood Harris, newcomer Chase Infiniti—signals scale and stakes.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hierarchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hierarchy. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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