Definition of justnext
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as in only
nothing more than I was just kidding

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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
The revelation came just days after ChatGPT maker OpenAI disclosed its rogue models had also hacked another company. CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026 After Hadid and Cooper were photographed sporting matching Boucheron wedding rings, there was widespread speculation that the two had actually tied the knot and just not told anyone. Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 5 Aug. 2026
Adjective
In just months, Syria has gone from shipping none of the fuel to making up more than a quarter of Middle Eastern volumes. Bloomberg News, Boston Herald, 18 July 2026 During uncertain times, customers need more than just products. Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for just
Recent Examples of Synonyms for just
Adverb
  • It’s already been established that Ted is returning to coach the team, though what exactly convinces him to come back is a reveal saved for the premiere itself.
    Rachel LaBonte, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Aug. 2026
  • What all three cases have in common is that nobody can quite explain what exactly the crime here is.
    Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2026
Adverb
  • That’s always been a problem for Thanedar, who only took 55% of the vote in 2024 against two candidates who barely campaigned – and after an AIPAC affiliate spent more than $2 million to help him.
    David Weigel, semafor.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Google will reveal the Pixel 11 series later this month, but leaks and teasers so far have painted a picture of phones that have barely changed since last year.
    Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 4 Aug. 2026
Adverb
  • Mundo Deportivo corroborates these key figures, while noting that Cancelo only has a year left on his contract at Al-Hilal.
    Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • And the actor believes there is a power in seeing only the before and aftermath of the killing.
    Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026
Adverb
  • So, for me, often, a quick skim to the end and then right to work.
    Sabrina Jaszi, The Dial, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Washington is last in reliever Stuff+ this year and has cycled through a variety of uninspiring closers, so there’s a chance Cruz steps right into the biggest role in the bullpen.
    Eno Sarris, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Adverb
  • There’s a case to be made for every tic-tac-toe set being a travel tic-tac-toe set, due quite simply to its size; but this leather kit transforms one of the world’s simplest games into a luxury accessory.
    Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Some travel essentials are simply non-negotiable, from a blackout eye mask for sleeping on the plane to a personal safety alarm for peace of mind.
    Hayley Domin, Travel + Leisure, 8 Aug. 2026
Adverb
  • The Indiana Fever — a habitual middle-of-the-pack franchise, 14 years removed from its only championship — have been on a hot streak on the court lately that has carried them up among the championship contenders.
    Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Cinema has lately exhausted the emotional mileage of the Ukraine–EU border, but one wittily choreographed setpiece involving the couple’s border crossing finds in transition an ingenious point of convergence between gender and geography.
    Sonya Vseliubska, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Yet traders will look for commentary and signals on what these companies have to say about their semiconductor purchases — and whether the recent sell-off in chipmaking stocks is justified.
    Fred Imbert, CNBC, 29 July 2026
  • The event gives the trip a purpose, which can make the spending feel more justified.
    Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Adjective
  • The classical compute needed to interpret the error data—called the syndrome—of a logical qubit is substantial.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Then Saturday, a deluge of rain in the afternoon forced Mayor James Dodge to make the logical but still tough, call to cancel the second day of 23rd running of the Taste of Orland Park.
    Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Just.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/just. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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