just 1 of 2

adverb

ˈjəst How to pronounce just (audio)
Definition of justnext
1
as in exactly
in the same manner you can do it just the way they do

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in barely
by a very small margin I was just over the minimum age requirement for the senior citizen discount

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in only
nothing more than I was just kidding

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4
as in right
as stated or indicated without the slightest difference the length of the curtain is just right

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5
as in simply
for nothing other than got this present just for you

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in lately
not long ago I just bought this dress

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

just

2 of 2

adjective

ˈjəst How to pronounce just (audio)
1
as in justified
being what is called for by accepted standards of right and wrong a just punishment should fit the crime

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in logical
based on sound reasoning or information there are just reasons for the state's ban of the private use of fireworks

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in nice
conforming to a high standard of morality or virtue they are a just people who are guided by a firm belief in God and a love of traditional values

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4
as in honest
following the accepted rules of moral conduct the sort of just conduct that we expect of every soldier

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5
as in honorable
guided by or in accordance with one's sense of right and wrong stopping to help a stranded motorist is simply the just thing to do

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in equal
marked by justice, honesty, and freedom from bias a just appraisal of the political situation over there

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective just differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of just are conscientious, honest, honorable, scrupulous, and upright. While all these words mean "having or showing a strict regard for what is morally right," just stresses conscious choice and regular practice of what is right or equitable.

workers given just compensation

How are the words conscientious and scrupulous related as synonyms of just?

Both conscientious and scrupulous imply an active moral sense governing all one's actions and painstaking efforts to follow one's conscience.

conscientious in the completion of her assignments
scrupulous in carrying out the terms of the will

Where would honest be a reasonable alternative to just?

In some situations, the words honest and just are roughly equivalent. However, honest stresses adherence to such virtues as truthfulness, candor, or fairness.

known for being honest in business dealings

When might honorable be a better fit than just?

While in some cases nearly identical to just, honorable suggests a firm holding to codes of right behavior and the guidance of a high sense of honor and duty.

a difficult but honorable decision

When is upright a more appropriate choice than just?

The synonyms upright and just are sometimes interchangeable, but upright implies a strict adherence to moral principles.

a stern and upright minister

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 just
Adverb
Fitzgerald, who had just come from Ireland several years ago, was hired as a bartender and the two became fast friends. — Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 19 Aug. 2026 Shakur’s family had just left the courthouse on a midday break, People reported. — Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 19 Aug. 2026
Adjective
The commissioners representing the Hawaiian Government have consented to leave to the future and to the just and benevolent purposes of the United States the adjustment of all such questions. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Aug. 2026 In a more just world, Milton Friedman’s monetarism would be described as a monetary variation of Keynesianism. — John Tamny, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for just
Recent Examples of Synonyms for just
  1. exactly
  2. barely
  3. only
  4. right
  5. simply
  6. lately
  7. justified
  8. logical
Adverb
  • Where the claims fall short The gap between a viral claim and a lifelong habit is exactly what White wants people to keep in mind.
    — Olivia LaBorde, AJC.com, 20 Aug. 2026
  • But that’s exactly what happens here when the central character Gemma (Amelia Eve, The Haunting of Bly Manor), a single mother with a young daughter, visits Clare (Maisie Richardson-Sellers), a tattoo artist and part-time medium.
    — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of exactly
Adverb
  • Hundreds of miles away, Ukrainian drone crews had barely paused after the night’s work before starting to prepare for another attack.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Tampa Bay is closing in on the best record in baseball despite running out Taylor Walls, who is barely above replacement level, at short every day.
    — Jayson Stark, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of barely
Adverb
  • Due to the rising cost of living, many workers are now only able to afford their living expenses for around eight days in each month, according to Faramarz Toufighi, a Labor activist cited in the ILNA report.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
  • One recruit who had recently graduated basic training only vaguely recalled Hegseth's name.
    — Steven Beynon, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of only
Adverb
  • His home could soon sit right next to one of the 200-foot-high-voltage transmission towers.
    — Joy Benedict, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • At other moments, conversation and connection were happening right outside on the balcony between attendees, some of whom were meeting each other for the first time.
    — Shi Bradley, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of right
Adverb
  • There’s a small kitchenette and landing with a dining table, nice for a morning coffee or simply the feeling of having a little more space.
    — Megan Rose Murray, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026
  • This simply exposes the true motivation of some who have advocated opposition to this transaction.
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of simply
Adverb
  • It’s been hot in Pasadena lately, and according to Cat Chen, the best way to deal with the heat is simple—have your friends over, keep the AC running, and serve a refreshing menu alongside a crisp white wine.
    — Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 21 Aug. 2026
  • That lately has been a challenge for municipalities that count on buying salt through the Illinois Department of Central Management Services, only to be left out in the cold.
    — Steve Zalusky, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of lately
Adjective
  • Different fandoms may debate whether the shots fired there are justified, but Bridgers is kind of taking one at herself here, too, amid all the no-love-lost.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Despite the reforms, the NYPD’s federal monitor has repeatedly said that even when officers conduct a legally justified stop, the subsequent frisk or more invasive search is too often not justified.
    — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of justified
Adjective
  • When there are multiple logical possibilities for what the next word should be, the model typically selects one of those words by chance, based on their relative frequencies in the data.
    — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
  • For five of the Buss siblings, selling the remaining stake can be viewed as the logical conclusion of a process that began when the family surrendered control of the Lakers last year.
    — Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of logical

Phrases Containing just

Browse Nearby Words

jury-rigs
just
just about
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Cite this Entry

“Just.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/just. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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