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
Certainly, there's still work to do for the 22-year-old junior-to-be, whose body and reputation took a beating with the Longhorns over a tumultuous, 10-3 season in 2025. — ABC News, 23 July 2026 The actor wed Mari, who is 21 years his junior, in September 2022. — Shelby Stivale, Entertainment Weekly, 23 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
  • Its pilots fly with SkyBreathe software that adjusts routes and flight profiles in real time to burn less fuel, and the airline flew one A350 delivery leg from Singapore on a 40 percent blend of sustainable aviation fuel.
    — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • In the Netherlands and neighboring Germany cargo ships that ply the Rhine and its offshoots have been forced to carry significantly less freight or risk running aground in shallow navigation channels.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of less
Noun
  • The supporting figures are colorful enough, though Akkabi’s sneering chief villain arguably makes less of an impression than his subordinates.
    — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 26 July 2026
  • Almost all the coverage of this story has focused on who knew what, and when, about Sherrone Moore’s affair with a subordinate.
    — Jason Kirk, New York Times, 24 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
  • Despite those lower court rulings, the practice has continued nationally, said Gregory Chen, the senior director of government relations for the Immigration Lawyers Association.
    — Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 3 Sep. 2025
  • 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
Definition of lower
Noun
  • At Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, assistant music professor Benjamin Guerrero is co-teaching a class next year with a computer scientist.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Gainesville quickly lured Grayson’s coach, Santavious Bryant, a former Gainesville assistant, as Niblett’s replacement.
    — Todd Holcomb, AJC.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of assistant
Adjective
  • They were first popularized in Georgian England as small tokens of affection, infatuation or mourning, and examples are scattered across major museums such as the Victoria & Albert Museum in London and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
    — Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Potential monetary policy task force recommendations may involve less transparent communication, a smaller balance sheet with stability risks, and inflation metrics that produce a lower reading.
    — David Zhang, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 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 3 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of junior for Spanish Speakers

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