1
as in ranks
the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement
the greasy spoon restaurant was several rungs below the kind of establishment in which we usually dined
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in canes
Scottish
a heavy rigid stick used as a weapon or for punishment
the watchman usually carried a stout oak rung
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rungs
To match the look, hang antique grain sacks off the rungs of a ladder before leaning it against the wall by your front door.
—
Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Sep. 2025
High interest rates may not compensate for the risk at the lower rungs.
—Vipin Bharathan, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
His fashions came at a time when women were climbing the rungs of the corporate ladder and needed to dress accordingly.
—Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2025
While that investment factored into their ability to draw an invitation to join the Pac-12 in 2026, the conference the Rams are joining is still multiple rungs below the upper echelon of college athletics.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 31 Aug. 2025
Commuting daily into Israel to work in sectors such as construction, agriculture, and industry, Palestinians filled the lowest rungs of the Israeli labor market and covered some of the labour shortfall caused by prolonged military service for the Jewish citizens of Israel.
—Literary Hub
august 27, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2025
All of those players had staggering underlying records on the second and third rungs of the tennis circuit, while Atmane has produced an old-fashioned heater.
—Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025
The sloppy joe is an unsung icon of Americana cooking, several rungs down the ladder of respectability from its more celebrated quick-serve cousins, such as the hamburger and the chili dog.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2025
In short vertical videos, Klymenko stands on the back rungs of a ladder, inviting one guest at a time to hop on the front side.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2025
Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Sep. 2025
High interest rates may not compensate for the risk at the lower rungs.
—Vipin Bharathan, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
His fashions came at a time when women were climbing the rungs of the corporate ladder and needed to dress accordingly.
—Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2025
While that investment factored into their ability to draw an invitation to join the Pac-12 in 2026, the conference the Rams are joining is still multiple rungs below the upper echelon of college athletics.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 31 Aug. 2025
Commuting daily into Israel to work in sectors such as construction, agriculture, and industry, Palestinians filled the lowest rungs of the Israeli labor market and covered some of the labour shortfall caused by prolonged military service for the Jewish citizens of Israel.
—Literary Hub
august 27, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2025
All of those players had staggering underlying records on the second and third rungs of the tennis circuit, while Atmane has produced an old-fashioned heater.
—Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025
The sloppy joe is an unsung icon of Americana cooking, several rungs down the ladder of respectability from its more celebrated quick-serve cousins, such as the hamburger and the chili dog.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2025
In short vertical videos, Klymenko stands on the back rungs of a ladder, inviting one guest at a time to hop on the front side.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rungs
Noun
-
The ranks of Trump enemies with legal blowback could soon include former DOJ special counsel Jack Smith.—
Shelby Talcott,
semafor.com,
8 Oct. 2025
-
The 29-year-old ranks 12th in pressures generated among NFL edge rushers, one spot behind Abdul Carter, and has four sacks through five games.—
Chad Graff,
New York Times,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Cover the pot and the bottom few inches of the rose canes with soil, then add a layer of mulch for insulation.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Multiple video cameras captured the dynamic choreo on giant screens behind the stage as McRae and her entourage danced with canes, strutted down a catwalk, seductively gyrated on moving platforms, and even pole-danced.—
Audrey Gibbs,
Nashville Tennessean,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
For kitties, there are three suction levels to handle cats with both thick and thin coats.—
Christine Persaud,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
-
By the time the five members of Tomorrow X Together (TXT for short) appear, not from the stage but through the pit doors, weaving past the barricades and into the sea of fans, the noise has swelled to seismic levels.—
Crystal Bell,
Rolling Stone,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The plaintiffs later accused the department of violating the order by hitting journalists with batons and arresting them during an August protest.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Reuters reported that police used water cannons, batons, rubber bullets and tear gas against protesters.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Grey typically isn’t a colour associated with fun, but the background, lettering, stripe down the middle and sleeve design, have defied logic to propel the Raiders into the higher echelons of these rankings.—
Ajay Rose,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Few things are more luxurious than a cashmere sweater, but the luscious fabric isn’t reserved solely for the upper echelons of society.—
Melony Forcier,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Trump, congressional Republicans and Democrats remain dug into their positions, with no end in sight to a shutdown that appears likely to spill into the weekend and perhaps beyond.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
-
The Corrections Department budget increases wages for corrections officers but also makes tens of millions of dollars in cuts by eliminating programs and administrative costs and funding for positions that have not been filled.—
Paul Egan,
Freep.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
In 2011, the Wisconsin State Legislature altered the property tax levy formula limits, eliminating the 2% ceiling that local municipalities could draw from taxpayers in places where new construction couldn't justify a larger levy increase.—
Jim Riccioli,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Yesavage traded places with Toronto’s offence five times.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rungs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rungs. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
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