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
Only 9% of Republicans support the executive order, and just 30% of independents. Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 16 July 2026 The Three Lions were just six minutes away from making their first World Cup final since 1966. Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026
Adjective
Among the subjects Avila Chevalier says Democrats should focus on are affordability, federal budgets focused on aiding working people, and a more just immigration system — including abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Joseph Konig, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026 But Lumumba was far more than a just politician. Emile Nuh, CNN Money, 24 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for just
Recent Examples of Synonyms for just
Adverb
  • But that’s exactly what happened, and the area proved to be one of the tournament’s smashing successes.
    Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026
  • Bradač’s work looked at Ramsey numbers, which tell mathematicians exactly how large a graph can become before it’s guaranteed to gain a clique or independent set.
    Sam Macdonald, Scientific American, 15 July 2026
Adverb
  • McConnell, who at 84 is only the third-oldest member of the Senate, was admitted to the hospital on June 14 with barely any explanation.
    ABC News, ABC News, 14 July 2026
  • From the first minute of the game, France looked off the pace and off color and barely laid a glove on Spain.
    Aleks Klosok, CNN Money, 14 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
  • The surge is coming right at the peak of the summer driving season, which could cost Americans hundreds of millions of dollars more compared with this time last year.
    Mirtha Donastorg, AJC.com, 15 July 2026
  • The regular portal window normally opens right after the championship game and lasts for 15 days.
    Tobias Bass, New York Times, 14 July 2026
Adverb
  • Unlike dogs, they cannot simply be taken on longer walks, often resist dietary changes, and can be difficult to medicate consistently, making GLP-1 therapies potentially attractive if clinical trials prove successful.
    Elsa Ohlen,Carolin Roth, CNBC, 18 July 2026
  • The suitors embarrassed themselves one by one, until Antinous demanded Penelope simply choose the best of them.
    Tanya Fedak, Variety, 18 July 2026
Adverb
  • This move seems to have become her signature contribution lately.
    Clayton Davis, Variety, 17 July 2026
  • Vance has been staking out his own pathway lately in what many political observers estimate is a lead-up to a 2028 presidential bid.
    Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 17 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
  • Gatewood agrees that Chessy was a logical addition from the Wonderland canon.
    Kimberly Nordyke, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2026
  • Jeff Hettick, vice president of Agile Mission Systems at GA-ASI, said adapting those capabilities to maritime operations was a logical next step.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 14 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Just.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/just. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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