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

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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

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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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
Ginny just barely survives on some sad do-gooder part-time job. — Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026 Although about 90 per cent of those who crossed the border returned to Morocco within 72 hours, around 5,000 have remained in the city, which has a population of just over 83,000. — Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Adjective
Convincing urban commuters to trust their safety to an adhesive joint requires more than just theories though. — New Atlas, 29 Aug. 2026 And yet still, with just days to go in the legislative session, the majority of lawmakers, as well as the public, do not have any draft legislative language to work with, leaving all but the negotiators in the dark about key details of the proposal. — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 26 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
  • And talk about schlock, surely there was something if not exactly schlocky then definitely sensationalist about Marcia’s way of eviscerating an artist or an event.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026
  • That’s exactly what’s happened to him, with the special recognition of being chosen by his peers as a captain.
    — Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of exactly
Adverb
  • After receiving treatment, Potapova returned for what proved to be the last three points, but could barely move.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The comedic play, which is set at a silent retreat, has the unique convention of having the majority of its characters barely speak, and rather rely on their physicality.
    — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of barely
Adverb
  • Granted, Pollard needs only 1,083 yards to achieve a career high, but the Titans would like to get Tyjae Spears more involved and the overall quality of this offense remains a large question mark.
    — Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • These layers can be conductors, insulators, or semiconductor materials and may be only a few nanometers thick.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of only
Adverb
  • Yesavage experienced the longest baseball season of his life, Berríos pitched through pain in the regular season and Bieber came off Tommy John rehab right into a pennant race and October push.
    — Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Nothing could be more convenient than having a ton of equipment right in my room.
    — Chadner Navarro, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of right
Adverb
  • That flexibility makes flow batteries particularly relevant to long-duration storage, where systems may need to deliver electricity for several hours rather than simply provide short bursts of backup power.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 12 Sep. 2026
  • Protecting someone’s right to reject the American experiment is different from treating that rejection as simply another interpretation of it.
    — Joe Daniels, Time, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of simply
Adverb
  • As the financial press dials up estimates of total investment in data centers—from hundreds of billions to lately several trillion dollars—the fear of compute overcapacity, low or negative returns, and a recession escalates.
    — Harvard Business Review, Harvard Business Review, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The Bengals have gotten off to horrendous starts lately but with Zac Taylor on the hot seat, there should have been a lot more urgency in camp.
    — Hank Gola, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of lately
Adjective
  • Golf equipment powerhouse Callaway ended its partnership with Good Good Golf amid the justified backlash over a video ad for a new Callaway driver that depicts a man aggressively shoving a woman to the ground.
    — Greg Cote August 30, Miami Herald, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Our community carries decades of justified mistrust toward institutions that have not always earned it.
    — Chuka Onuh, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of justified
Adjective
  • Large language models train on amalgamated content from millions of writers to predict the next logical word.
    — Marissa Brassfield, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The decision to launch a separate block of programming aimed at those viewers, filled with raunchy cartoons that actively subverted nostalgia and violent anime that couldn’t be shown during daytime hours, was logical.
    — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 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 14 Sep. 2026.

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