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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
The October poll found just 46% of likely voters would vote yes on Proposition 40, the billionaire’s tax, while 52% would vote no. — Andrew Graham october 27, Sacbee.com, 28 Oct. 2026 Forty-three percent of US adults say their own representatives deserve another term, while just 15% — also a record pre-midterm low — say most members have earned reelection. — Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 28 Oct. 2026
Adjective
Castellitto began changing lines from English into Italian, and with just days to go before filming, the decision was made to add the language. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 19 Oct. 2026 The typical just cheese or pepperoni toppings are on offer, but the menu has more out-of-the-box combos such as a chicken mushroom ranch, and a Hawaiian variation called the Island Remix. — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 23 Sep. 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
  • The Coopop Bobber is exactly that – an electric two-wheeler that borrows the visual swagger of a custom bobber and pairs it with the decidedly more modest performance of a European electric moped.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Media archaeology is exactly the kind of (proto) discipline that is interested in dead ends, unrealized projects, and strange coincidences.
    — The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of exactly
Adverb
  • How much families can actually save at checkout Saving a buck or two on one item barely registers.
    — Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Some people swear by a barely-there rim; others prefer the reassuring heft of a substantial tumbler.
    — Vy Yang, Architectural Digest, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of barely
Adverb
  • More than $405 million will be spent on advertising in the final week of the midterm elections for the top 15 races in the House and Senate, an eye-popping figure that will only continue to climb ahead of Election Day on Tuesday.
    — Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 29 Oct. 2026
  • After fouling out for only the 35th time of his NBA career in the Heat’s third game of the season, Antetokounmpo also dealt with foul trouble on Wednesday against the Hawks.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of only
Adverb
  • And yesterday is one of those days when your family ain’t acting right.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026
  • And the need to blend all the sound together right before the ear canal can make the more complex instrumentation sound more sloppy than precise.
    — Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of right
Adverb
  • Sagittarius November 22 – December 21 Another person could make your day better simply by being easy to work with.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Put simply, the world needs gas to generate electricity and power heavy industry.
    — Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of simply
Adverb
  • That hasn't been the trend lately, as Friday's slide in the stock market coincided with an aggressive sell-off in bonds, a trade largely driven by fears of escalating oil prices hitting both asset classes.
    — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Ashley’s view Concerns about AI and technology have simmered under the surface of American campaign politics for years, but have never been a fully salient everyday issue for voters until lately.
    — Ashley Gold, semafor.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of lately
Adjective
  • The Mississippi attorney general’s office said its review found the fatal shooting was a justified use of force.
    — Jack Brook, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Crump on Monday pointed out that authorities have yet to release video footage of the encounter to support the attorney general's finding that the shooting was a justified use of force.
    — SOPHIE BATES, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of justified
Adjective
  • Our tortured contemporary education is a logical outgrowth of its origin story.
    — Kamau Bobb October 21, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2026
  • But with wingers like Temwa Chawinga and Michelle Cooper, the logical spot for her was striker.
    — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 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 29 Oct. 2026.

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