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

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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
For some of my teammates, who had junior high success or maybe a brother who’d preceded them, these guys had played Little League together and knew one another. — John Nogowski, Hartford Courant, 18 Aug. 2026 Bloom, which narrowly missed the playoffs in the first season for coach Dante Culbreath in 2025, has a high-major recruit in explosive junior receiver Javion Hatten, who has an offer from Pittsburgh. — Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026
Noun
Fedoseyev is a quality two-way defenseman who has played well in junior in Russia and has gotten time against pros. — Corey Pronman, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026 Kubecka, a 6-2, 205-pound junior from Austin, Texas, had 17 catches for 157 yards and one TD for KU in 2025. — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 18 Aug. 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
  • After a less-than-stellar 27-7 loss in their preseason opener against the Broncos last week, the Falcons look to turn the tables against the Colts during their second exhibition game Saturday in Indianapolis.
    — AJC Sports, AJC.com, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Since the coupon amounts cannot change, the instrument that does is the bill, a Treasury security that matures in a year or less.
    — James Broughel, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of less
Noun
  • Impressive Humility with peers, and something else entirely with subordinates.
    — Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The subordinate sent a spreadsheet reporting that more than 500,000 work-orders in the MTA system at the time had been closed out despite having no indication the work had been done.
    — Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 16 Aug. 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
  • Just as Wolverine is surrounded, he’s saved by Mystique, who’s shape-shifted herself into one of Trask’s minions.
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026
  • One of Danhausen’s minions took out Mysterio with a flipping dive on the outside.
    — Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 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
  • Cignetti, who worked as a Saban assistant from 2007 to 2010, clapped back.
    — Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Ball, who collaborated with two camera operators and two assistants on Tucci in Italy, then designed shots as unobtrusive as possible so the contributors could feel comfortable.
    — Matthew Jacobs, HollywoodReporter, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of assistant
Adjective
  • Instead, contestants compete for crowd reaction and are rewarded with attention and, in some cases, small cash prizes.
    — Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Mix the cornstarch with the cold water in a small bowl to make a smooth slurry.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 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 25 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on junior

Nglish: Translation of junior for Spanish Speakers

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