Synonyms of menial

menial 1 of 2

adjective

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• humble
• servile
• meek
• abject
• slavish
• base
• lowly
• modest
• sheepish
• unassuming
• hangdog
• retiring
• lamblike
• sycophantic
• fawning
• unpretentious
• demure
• sycophant
• toadyish

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• superior
• arrogant
• supercilious
• haughty
• uppity
• imperious
• lordly
• high-handed

menial

2 of 2

noun

ˈmē-nē-əl 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• servant
• housekeeper
• maid
• steward
• domestic
• lackey
• daily
• butler
• woman
• retainer
• flunky
• groom
• assistant
• man
• houseboy
• valet
• servitor
• manservant
• footman
• housemaid
• maidservant
• majordomo
• attendant
• handmaiden
• factotum
• drudge
• houseman
• companion
• wench
• dogsbody
• gofer
• follower
• lady-in-waiting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• master
• mistress
• foreman
• chief
• boss
• leader
• head
• captain
• taskmaster
• headman
• helmsman
• kingpin

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of menial

Adjective

The section of Girls Like Girls that follows is its most rewarding and mature, as Coley processes her separation from Sonya by sinking herself into a menial restaurant job and hanging out with her dad. — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 26 June 2026

She’s supposed to help only with menial tasks, but often ends up helping solve mysteries that leave the police dumbfounded. — Skyler Trepel, Entertainment Weekly, 20 June 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