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

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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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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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
County Clerk Monica Gordon and Treasurer Maria Pappas are unopposed and were declared winners just after polls closed, while Sheriff Tom Dart ran unopposed in the primary and faces Libertarian Brad Sandefur. — A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2026 That puts the race just outside of the half-percentage point margin that can trigger a recount under Florida law. — Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2026
Adjective
Through it all, through the peaks and valleys of Adebayo’s Heat career, the rebound record is a passing of the torch that coach Erik Spoelstra said is a just passage. — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 27 Oct. 2026 In sourcing markets where apparel supports millions of workers, this could be particularly detrimental to a just transition. — Jessica Binns, Vogue, 26 Oct. 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
  • All public school educators receive supplemental pay through the property tax, but exactly how much depends on their years spent teaching.
    — Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Although such caution is not new, relying on government signals and public investment sets up a perverse incentive for private companies not to invest in the absence of public support, which is exactly what governments want to avoid.
    — Tom Moerenhout, Foreign Affairs, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of exactly
Adverb
  • By spinning up nostalgia for a kind of luxurious rap stardom that barely exists anymore, Baby Osamaa comes up with a sketch of what her own big-budget major label debut would look like.
    — Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Thankfully, there will always be Basque cheesecake, glazed on the top and barely set in the center.
    — John Kessler, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of barely
Adverb
  • In her remarks, Wintour made the evening’s only direct reference to the midterms, reminiscing about attending a fundraising event for James Talarico, who successfully flipped Texas in the race for the Senate last night, alongside Burch.
    — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 5 Nov. 2026
  • However, Lelapo guests are not permitted to walk to Kapano or Dithaba, to maintain the exclusive, adults-only atmosphere.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of only
Adverb
  • Caden Piening’s diving catch of an Alonza Barnett III pass right at the pylon — ruled a 6-yard touchdown with 1 second left.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Brisk weekend in Baltimore Sunday begins with a mostly clear sky and temperatures averaging in the low to mid-40s away from the bay and upper 40s right along the bayfront.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of right
Adverb
  • Rather than simply separating the original laser sources, the chip diagonalises the light field’s coherency matrix.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Yet, many families simply aren’t in the position to afford a new car for their teen—while others decide their child isn’t ready for such a big responsibility.
    — Melissa Willets, Parents, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of simply
Adverb
  • Anyone who’s been to the pump lately could appreciate a little less reliance on cars.
    — Amelia Mularz, Architectural Digest, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Models in Rose’s own age group have lately been commanding a powerful kind of runway sisterhood.
    — Sarah Mower, Vogue, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of lately
Adjective
  • Yet, this very constraint pushed me to create a style of cooking that transcends the distance, making the journey—the hours spent in the car—fully justified.
    — Nathan Tavares, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Badrutt’s was also named winner of The World’s 50 Best Hotels’ Art of Hospitality Award in 2026 – an accolade that felt entirely justified after our stay.
    — Fergus Scholes, TheWeek, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of justified
Adjective
  • But there’s something bracingly logical about injecting the synthetic jolt of electronic dance music into a hospital environment, where vulnerable bodies are sustained by machines.
    — Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2026
  • With 40 percent of its revenue generated by returning customers, Braquet said this focus was the logical next step and the motivation in their ongoing first funding round.
    — Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of logical

Phrases Containing just

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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 11 Nov. 2026.

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