junior 1 of 2

adjective

ˈjün-yər How to pronounce junior (audio)
Definition of juniornext
as in smaller
having not so great importance or rank as another junior advisers to the governor

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

junior

2 of 2

noun

as in subordinate
one who is of lower rank and typically under the authority of another she's his junior in the company

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 junior
Adjective
Emmanuel Pullins of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame is ready for a breakout junior season. — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026 Britain’s incoming 59th prime minister first served as a junior minister under Blair. — Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 20 July 2026
Noun
Cunningham, a utility player who was named the 2026 Daily Southtown Baseball Player of the Year as a junior this spring, made it through preliminary rounds on July 10, cutting down the derby field from eight players to two. — Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026 Burns threw 100 innings at Wake Forest as a junior, then 109 1/3 innings between the minors and big leagues last season. — C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for junior
Recent Examples of Synonyms for junior
  1. less
  2. subordinate
  3. lesser
  4. minion
  5. lower
  6. assistant
  7. small
Adjective
  • The movie can also be seen in more common digital formats for less.
    — Tania Azhang, Sacbee.com, 18 July 2026
  • Made from a cotton-cashmere blend, this top is even more breathable than the original, and costs less.
    — Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 18 July 2026
Definition of less
Noun
  • The episode has also elevated the political profile of Fedorov, who was once known primarily as the architect of Ukraine’s digital transformation and subordinate to Zelenskyy.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 July 2026
  • Mayor Dean Trantalis, Commissioner Steven Glassman and Commissioner John Herbst took issue with her leadership, accusing her of being dismissive to subordinates and ruffling too many feathers.
    — Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026
Definition of subordinate
Adjective
  • Even lesser-scale incidents like the Varsity Blues college admissions scandal and the Volkswagen emissions scandal erode trust in the institutions that help make our society possible and push it forward.
    — Lindsey Witmer Collins, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Toronto’s Fred VanVleet appears to be the top target, but Miami’s Kyle Lowry, Utah’s Mike Conley and, perhaps to a lesser extent, Charlotte’s Terry Rozier have been linked to the team at various points.
    — Staff Writer Follow, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2023
Definition of lesser
Noun
  • Daniel isn’t this devil’s only minion; Armand’s got an Illumination movie’s worth of cronies doing his bidding.
    — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 20 July 2026
  • In my view, we are no longer respected by our foreign allies, the poor are getting poorer, and his wealthy minions are getting richer at our expense.
    — Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 2026
Definition of minion
Adjective
  • And ultimately, the Supreme Court overruled those lower court rulings and did declare the embryos as children qualifying under the wrongful death statute.
    — Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2024
  • Lower gas demand amid increasing supply has led to lower pump prices.
    — Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 19 June 2023
Definition of lower
Noun
  • That’s according to the European Commission, which is now cracking down on what that means for AI assistants.
    — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 19 July 2026
  • The video assistant referee, on the whole, was judged to have been a success.
    — Chris Marshall-Bell, New York Times, 19 July 2026
Definition of assistant
Adjective
  • The division charged with keeping a handle on parasitic diseases had already been small, with only a few employees designated to parasite work.
    — Blake Ellis, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
  • When states lose the authority to set their own food safety and agricultural standards, consumers and small farmers pay the price.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 19 July 2026
Definition of small

Browse Nearby Words

jungles
junior
junior high school
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Cite this Entry

“Junior.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/junior. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

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