posterior 1 of 2

adjective

pō-ˈstir-ē-ər How to pronounce posterior (audio)
Definition of posteriornext
1
as in rear
being at or in the part of something opposite the front part the chapel's posterior location in the church serves to make it a quiet retreat

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in subsequent
being, occurring, or carried out at a time after something else artifacts dating from a posterior historical period

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

posterior

2 of 2

noun

pä-ˈstir-ē-ər How to pronounce posterior (audio)
as in cheeks
the part of the body upon which someone sits the baseball players were always slapping one another on the posterior

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 posterior
Adjective
The 24-year-old had an MRI on Wednesday morning and the Red Sox received encouraging news, as results showed left posterior elbow inflammation. — Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 1 July 2026 Starter Michael Soroka left before the second inning with posterior hip discomfort sustained throwing warm-up pitches. — CBS News, 20 June 2026
Noun
The attached marathon seasons, compressed offseasons and challenging schedules that came with that stature also included generally being relegated to the posterior of the draft. — Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2026 The car’s most eye-catching feature is arguably its tapered posterior. — Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 14 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for posterior
Recent Examples of Synonyms for posterior
  1. rear
  2. subsequent
  3. cheeks
  4. back
  5. later
  6. seat
  7. tail
  8. bum
Adjective
  • Both the front and rear right tires are absolutely screaming through this 50- to 60-mph corner.
    — Jerry Perez, The Drive, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Farrell, the first officer to arrive at the scene, found Pysher on the home's rear patio, several feet from the back door, according to prosecutors.
    — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of rear
Adjective
  • Police and lifeguard efforts The teen’s accident in July was one of three incidents and subsequent rescues over a 15-day period, according to the San Diego Union Tribune.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • In a subsequent interview with Russian media, Vishegirskaya said that the hospital had only been shelled, not bombed, and that she had been filmed without her consent.
    — Nick Holdstock, The Dial, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of subsequent
Noun
  • Its star ingredient, tamarind seed extract, keeps cheeks comfortable and hydrated for hours.
    — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Lips and cheeks have been hogging all the attention recently, while lids and lashes have been going nearly naked.
    — Elle Turner, Glamour, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of cheeks
Adjective
  • Occasionally, something curious happens — Semi Ajayi, who plays on the right of their back three, setting off on a wild overlap just before half-time, for instance.
    — Stuart James, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Security was locked down in the date-palm groves, and traffic was diverted to the back roads; a mobile laboratory was set up in the desert to make sure that the food was safe for such esteemed guests to eat.
    — Ruby Tandoh, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of back
Adjective
  • But others indicate machinist Matthew Maguire, later secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, New Jersey, first proposed the holiday, also in 1882.
    — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Navarrete’s other two virtual hearings of the morning ended similarly, with the client ordered back at a later date.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of later
Noun
  • The school has also opted into athlete revenue sharing, and its home stadium seats 24,000.
    — Manny Navarro, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Artists picking stadiums look first for seats that can command a lot of money.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of seat
Noun
  • The workers would be fined if their tails were dirty, their satin ears crooked.
    — Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Robinhood — Shares of the trading app jumped 15% after Deutsche Bank issued a report pointing to prediction market tail winds for brokers, asset managers and exchanges.
    — Darla Mercado, CFP®,Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of tail
Noun
  • Cocktail chatter on the Lido held that this was a more minor work than anticipated, and many of those positive reviews nevertheless included a few bum notes.
    — Nate Jones, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Kennedy’s Albany is a vital, violent place, a hothouse of gangsters, pool hustlers, bums, crooked politicians, and showgirls.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of bum

Browse Nearby Words

poster
posterior
posteriorly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Posterior.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/posterior. Accessed 11 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of patina

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All