ˈhī-(ə-)ˌrär-kē
as in ladder
a scheme of rank or order
honesty sits at the top of my hierarchy of values
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of hierarchy
With the hiring of special-teams coordinator Craig Aukerman on Monday, the hierarchy of the new coach Kevin Stefanski’s staff is in place.
—
D. Orlando Ledbetter, AJC.com, 26 Jan. 2026
But will stronger schedules power the Pac-12 past the Big East and into fifth place in the conference hierarchy?
—Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
His last Everton contract expired at the end of 2024-25, but the club’s hierarchy gave serious thought to giving their No 9 the opportunity to stay on.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
What began as a search for community and understanding turned into an experience that felt akin to the cliques and social hierarchies of high school.
—Hannah Nwoko, Parents, 25 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hierarchy
D. Orlando Ledbetter, AJC.com, 26 Jan. 2026
But will stronger schedules power the Pac-12 past the Big East and into fifth place in the conference hierarchy?
—Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
His last Everton contract expired at the end of 2024-25, but the club’s hierarchy gave serious thought to giving their No 9 the opportunity to stay on.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
What began as a search for community and understanding turned into an experience that felt akin to the cliques and social hierarchies of high school.
—Hannah Nwoko, Parents, 25 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hierarchy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hierarchy
Noun
-
Linda Liddle is an office workhorse who has spent her career trying to get ahead by working late and grinding out quarterly reports through lunch at her desk, only to see the credit stolen by whatever smirking golf buddy has leapfrogged her up the corporate ladder.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
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Forget about climbing the ladder, Capricorn — 2026 is about building something that truly sustains you.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In general the editors gave it a low ranking, citing a lack of flavor and a strong aftertaste.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
30 Jan. 2026
-
But one recent prospect ranking dropped an Elly comparison onto a teenager buried deep in the Phillies’ farm system.—
Anthony Stitt,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Several African governments, including Botswana, Uganda, South Africa and Kenya, have acknowledged the scale of the problem.—
Larry Madowo,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
-
The Iranian economy is a grand hall of mirrors, concealing criminal theft on an epic scale.—
Azadeh Moaveni,
Time,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hierarchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hierarchy. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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