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
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hierarchy
This cleanly segments everything into management and labor while instituting an inflexible hierarchy.
—
Josh Browning, Big Think, 28 Oct. 2025
The Barca and Madrid hierarchies have battled together for common causes like the European Super League, which Perez has been pushing for decades, and which Laporta saw as a possible handy solution for Barca’s financial difficulties.
—Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Royalty is a lot about hierarchy.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 25 Oct. 2025
Wealth has trickled down to the have-nots of the past like Vanderbilt and Mizzou, and the sport’s hierarchy has been shaken up accordingly.
—Quentin Corpuel, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hierarchy
Josh Browning, Big Think, 28 Oct. 2025
The Barca and Madrid hierarchies have battled together for common causes like the European Super League, which Perez has been pushing for decades, and which Laporta saw as a possible handy solution for Barca’s financial difficulties.
—Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Royalty is a lot about hierarchy.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 25 Oct. 2025
Wealth has trickled down to the have-nots of the past like Vanderbilt and Mizzou, and the sport’s hierarchy has been shaken up accordingly.
—Quentin Corpuel, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hierarchy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hierarchy
Noun
-
Brown made a gasp-worthy touchdown catch against App State in late September, climbing the ladder to reel in a pass, before slamming into the turf and breaking his nose as his helmet popped off.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
28 Oct. 2025
-
At 25, when half her friends ran off to marry well and the other half were hell-bent on climbing the corporate ladder, Bizu found herself in the middle, unsure whether to pursue a boyfriend or a business plan.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Here are this week’s rankings, which are not a pure ranking of how good each team is, rather a ranking of the overall feel around the teams, programs and fan bases, the hopes, the dreams, the frustration, the despair … the vibes.—
Seth Emerson,
New York Times,
26 Oct. 2025
-
John Rose, chief risk adviser for ALTOUR, a global travel management company, said Anguilla’s ranking stems from several distinct advantages.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
But one trial in Maidstone, Kent, in 1652 stands out for its scale and public fascination.—
James Frater,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025
-
The true scale of the killings was confirmed by satellite imagery from Planet Labs, analyzed by the Washington Post.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hierarchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hierarchy. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share