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
Davidson previously teased just how far the transformation goes, appearing in an earlier first-look image with longer hair, a darker, more brooding look, and colored contacts. Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 26 Aug. 2026 The neighborhood/area Hensonville is a tiny hamlet of Windham in the middle of the Catskills with a population of just 378 people. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Aug. 2026
Adjective
Arab countries have worked with Israel against their common enemies despite the lack of a just solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Marc Lynch, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026 But true aficionados should make a reservation for The Journey, a tasting menu experience of just desserts that takes place every Thursday night. Kyle Beechey, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for just
Recent Examples of Synonyms for just
Adverb
  • The playwright’s story plants its clues carefully enough that the eventual revelations feel surprising without feeling arbitrary — exactly what a good ghost story should accomplish.
    Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
  • What was likely the last live play of Jayden Daniels’ preseason showed exactly why there’s explosive potential in every Washington Commanders snap.
    Nicki Jhabvala, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Adverb
  • Some come so quickly that there’s barely time to process how they were accomplished.
    Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Azurá Stevens, the franchise’s marquee signing worth just over $1 million a year, barely cracked a 10-point average while missing nearly a quarter of the season due to injuries and personal concerns.
    Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
Adverb
  • Conforto has the rare distinction of being one of only three players to appear in the Little League World Series, NCAA Men’s College World Series (Oregon State in 2013) and MLB’s World Series (Mets in 2015), along with Ed Vosberg and Jason Varitek.
    Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Luann patiently attempts to explain that the women don’t like being lectured to about their business affairs, only for Vicki to abruptly answer a phone call mid-conversation.
    Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
Adverb
  • Well, right after that, something happened between us on set.
    Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Other Giants pitchers on the IL include Matt Gage (left elbow strain), Trevor McDonald (right elbow strain), and Keaton Winn (right elbow neuritis).
    Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
Adverb
  • Our first feature profile this week focuses on Cristiano Ronaldo, often referred to simply as CR7.
    , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Emotions that pile on top of each other and simply knock you out.
    John Biemer, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
Adverb
  • Looking back, the designer—who has been listening to a lot of Madonna lately—finds an unlikely analogy in an interview with the singer.
    David Foxley, Architectural Digest, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Luckily for us, the A-list has supplied plenty of inspiration lately.
    Alyssa Rotunno, InStyle, 27 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Our community carries decades of justified mistrust toward institutions that have not always earned it.
    Chuka Onuh, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Different fandoms may debate whether the shots fired there are justified, but Bridgers is kind of taking one at herself here, too, amid all the no-love-lost.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 9 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Von Neumann himself helped develop it as a potential remedy for some logical inconsistencies with Hilbert space that troubled him.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 26 Aug. 2026
  • There is no logical world in which Sanders can be a backup to a rookie quarterback next year in Cleveland.
    Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Just.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/just. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

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