menial 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of menialnext
as in humble
showing, expressing, or offered in a spirit of humility or unseemly submissiveness every command was obeyed in the menial manner of someone who seemed grateful just to be in the presence of a celebrity

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menial

2 of 2

noun

ˈmē-nē-əl How to pronounce menial (audio)
as in servant
a person hired to perform household or personal services immigrants to that country faced fierce prejudice and could expect to find work only as menials

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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 menial
Adjective
The novel’s protagonist, Ro, is an isolated Korean-American woman working a menial job at an aquarium. — Tessa Yang, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026 American poet and novelist Charles Bukowski had a wide range of menial jobs before finding success as a writer later in life. — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 May 2026
Noun
Artificial intelligence has been heralded for its ability to optimize tasks, from the menial to the more complex. — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024 Outside the windowless offices, the anthropocene was over—somehow these hapless menials had missed its bang or its whimper—and the pre-human food chain was busy reasserting itself. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2023 See All Example Sentences for menial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for menial
  1. humble
  2. servant
  3. servile
  4. meek
Adjective
  • Family described him as a kind and humble man who worked hard and never hesitated to help others.
    — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026
  • The humble pen offers a very handy, easy-to-carry form factor for writing, so why not use it for other tasks, too?
    — Ben Coxworth July 14, New Atlas, 14 July 2026
Definition of humble
Noun
  • Bos, in a far cry from his cerebral Hamlet, embraces the physical comedy of dual supporting roles, the Jeeves-like butler Lane and the Cockney servant Merriman.
    — Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026
  • Yet his truest education came from the palace sweepers—the humble monk-servants who raised him.
    — Charlie Campbell, Time, 9 July 2026
Definition of servant
Adjective
  • Unfortunately, Trump takes servile flattery as his due.
    — Robert Kagan, The Atlantic, 19 June 2026
  • Of course, all of this convenient acquiescence will sound familiar in the United States, where our own Congress and Department of Justice have been nothing if not servile to a brazenly corrupt executive.
    — Daniel Alarcón, New Yorker, 4 June 2026
Definition of servile
Adjective
  • Clemson coach Dabo Swinney has never been a meek man, but his results of late — four or more losses in each of the last three seasons — spark worry about the health of his program after a dominant eight-year stretch prior.
    — Chris Branch, New York Times, 17 July 2026
  • Contrasting her with the meek, mysterious, and passive Anthy, the series examines the constrictions both men and women face via traditional gender roles, with an eye towards gender fluidity that remains radical today.
    — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 12 June 2026
Definition of meek

Browse Nearby Words

mends
menial
menials
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Cite this Entry

“Menial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/menial. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on menial

Nglish: Translation of menial for Spanish Speakers

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