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
Her husband, Brent Andrew Reynolds, also died at 35 just a few months before, his obituary said. Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 2 July 2026 Now that the news is out, ENHYPEN is doing more than just showing up for a panel. Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Adjective
Another great option is to try just a lint-free microfiber rag with just water. Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 2 July 2026 With locations across Atlanta and an easy online sign-up process, getting started takes just minutes. Kayla Rivera, AJC.com, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for just
Recent Examples of Synonyms for just
Adverb
  • That did not go well and still went exactly according to plan.
    Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
  • As historian Anton-Hermann Chroust notes, many lawyers in the colonies did exactly that.
    Joseph Andrew, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Adverb
  • Early on, pressure for more frequent disclosure came not from government regulators, who barely existed before 1934, but from investors.
    Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
  • Paris — As France braces for another heatwave, it’s barely recovered from the last one.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
Adverb
  • Potentially, this is why the digital artefacts in the time capsule are only in the Notes app; there’s no need to ask Apple for permission to access the iPhone’s core functionality to open them.
    Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
  • But Vakulenko of Carnegie believes supply problems in Moscow are real, thanks not only to the June attacks but multiple strikes on refineries in the surrounding regions that supply the capital.
    Clare Sebastian, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
Adverb
  • Finding vintage pants that fit just right is nearly impossible.
    Irene Richardson, InStyle, 8 July 2026
  • But a new scenic highway — now the heavily-trafficked Palos Verdes Drive — also opened in 1926, connecting burgeoning Redondo Beach and San Pedro and passing right by the lighthouse.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Adverb
  • Goddard says simply closing the blinds or drapes during the day to keep the sun out can lower the temperature of upper floors.
    Kamron Sanders, The Spruce, 3 July 2026
  • To release it, simply pull it apart, combining the convenience of magnetic attachment with the confidence of a physical locking mechanism.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 July 2026
Adverb
  • But lately, the chaos in the United States made the song seem regrettably apropos.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • That stands in contrast to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who's been publicly at odds with the White House a lot lately.
    Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 2 July 2026
Adjective
  • The goal is to reach justified confidence as fast as possible.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • The answers to those questions are ‘not really’ and ‘probably not’, even if there’s justified criticism that Tuchel prioritised physicality, athleticism and versatility over technical quality.
    Liam Tharme, New York Times, 30 June 2026
Adjective
  • The business solution provider, on the other hand, acts as the logical custodian of critical processes.
    Vicente Pava, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • Those are legitimate concerns, and yet the rebuttals are just as logical.
    Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 2 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Just.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/just. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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