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
Each was a career politician who spent decades laboriously climbing the government rungs before being elected governor.
—
Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
More importantly, the Flyers are arguably a few rungs below the Senators team that Carolina had zero trouble with in a sweep.
—Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 1 May 2026
The finished crochet blankets are on display draped over the rungs of a wooden, antique ladder and are a popular item with customers.
—Sarah Kyrcz, Hartford Courant, 27 Apr. 2026
Some options are considered a great catch, boasting superior benefits, while those high in mercury or contaminants may fall to lower rungs—or should be avoided altogether.
—Randi Gollin, Martha Stewart, 22 Apr. 2026
When there are fewer rungs on the ladder, there are fewer ways to climb—and fewer visible models of what advancement looks like.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2026
Wet rungs and soapy hands are a bad combination, so dry your grip frequently.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2026
Those rungs are numbered 0 to 10.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
Coaching licenses typically operate in a tier system, with the bottom rungs allowing people to coach youth soccer.
—Doha Madani, NBC news, 19 Mar. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
More importantly, the Flyers are arguably a few rungs below the Senators team that Carolina had zero trouble with in a sweep.
—Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 1 May 2026
The finished crochet blankets are on display draped over the rungs of a wooden, antique ladder and are a popular item with customers.
—Sarah Kyrcz, Hartford Courant, 27 Apr. 2026
Some options are considered a great catch, boasting superior benefits, while those high in mercury or contaminants may fall to lower rungs—or should be avoided altogether.
—Randi Gollin, Martha Stewart, 22 Apr. 2026
When there are fewer rungs on the ladder, there are fewer ways to climb—and fewer visible models of what advancement looks like.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2026
Wet rungs and soapy hands are a bad combination, so dry your grip frequently.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2026
Those rungs are numbered 0 to 10.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
Coaching licenses typically operate in a tier system, with the bottom rungs allowing people to coach youth soccer.
—Doha Madani, NBC news, 19 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rungs
Noun
-
Smith has been bumped down to the college ranks.—
Mike DeFabo,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
-
The skill that earned you the promotion is now the skill capping your rise to the executive ranks.—
Mark Murphy,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
Botrytis can also cause large, discolored patches on canes.—
Rita Perwich,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 May 2026
-
To rejuvenate these shrubs, cut three of the thickest canes all the way back to the ground in spring.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The department said its Gaslamp Enforcement teams can face large crowds, active fights and high levels of intoxication and sometimes deal with situations that quickly escalate.—
Karen Kucher,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 May 2026
-
The hotel runs on a mix of solar and diesel power, switching to the next-generation generators when battery levels drop below 40%.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
Sourdough, multigrain, sprouted grain, pumpernickel, boules, baguettes, batons, the list goes on, but one type may rise above the pack.—
Randi Gollin,
Martha Stewart,
19 May 2026
-
There used to be physical-comedy genius; there used to be simple, aspirational concepts; there used to be a passing of batons between past stars onto the next generation of them.—
Chris Feil,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
The film meticulously recreated their steps in linking the Watergate break-in and Republican ‘dirty tricks’ campaign to the highest echelons of power in America.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
17 May 2026
-
Weiss and others with similar beliefs are getting a boost from the highest echelons of the Israeli government.—
Shira Pinson,
NBC news,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
Congress approve an additional $44 million to the BIS to combat illicit export of technology and additional set of full- and -part-time positions devoted to export enforcement, AI executive order implementation, and modernization—all directed toward this exact issue.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
13 May 2026
-
In a separate vote, the board approved cutting 221 classified, or non-educator, positions.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
To promote the album, Rashad’s team scheduled events not only in Los Angeles and New York but also in Dallas and San Diego—not traditionally strong hip-hop markets, but places where Rashad does especially well.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
15 May 2026
-
These are the places where agents can start contributing right away.—
Jim Johnson,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Texas dominated many national rankings in the report as well, with the ZIP code encompassing the Dallas suburb of Crandall ranking second on the list and a more urban Dallas ZIP code ranking 10th.—
Faith Bugenhagen,
Austin American Statesman,
28 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rungs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rungs. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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