SECOND FIDDLE Synonyms: 40 Similar and Opposite Words

second fiddle

noun

Definition of second fiddle

as in second

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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 second fiddle My connoisseurship plays second fiddle to my status as a member of the clan. — Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 2 June 2026 The religion of college football is strong in the South, and everything else just plays second fiddle. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 May 2026 Bicycle tail lights have a way of playing second fiddle to their brighter, more interesting headlight siblings. — Ben Coxworth may 15, New Atlas, 15 May 2026 Colleen Camp, on the other hand, demonstrates a flair for light comedy as an alluring French maid, though the role too often requires her to play second fiddle to her own enhanced bosom. — Kirk Ellis, HollywoodReporter, 12 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for second fiddle

Recent Examples of Synonyms for second fiddle

Noun

The fastest breakout was 27 seconds, and one intrusion reached full data exfiltration in four minutes.

— Asaf Wiener, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
To avoid negative leap seconds, scientists agreed to expand the leap-second window to a leap hour.

— Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of second

Noun

Willow, a one-time teen star now employed as a casting assistant, carries most of the strain.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
Pore’s top assistant, Rafael Martinez, delivers the scouting report on their next opponent — in this instance, the University of Tulsa, with a match set for Wednesday night.

— Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of assistant

Noun

Major disaster aid includes individual assistance, such as temporary housing, loans and repair grants, that disaster survivors need quickly to recover.

— Dana R. Fisher, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026
And there is the profiteering from death — the talk of resorts on the shores of Gaza, the government money saved by Elon Musk cutting off aid to starving children.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of aid

Noun

Javier Rezendez Rocha, who joined LADWP as an aide to electricians, was charged with 12 counts of felony vandalism in connection with the string of incidents that lasted from August 2025 to August 2026, according to a criminal complaint.

— James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
The president turned to his new aide, who identifies as a lawyer.

— Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of aide

Noun

Thurman said Life Time has a contract with Freeman Health System for emergency medical services and is set to pay overtime for McDonald County Sheriff's Office deputies working to keep the race safe.

— Glory Reitz, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026
One deputy was caught directly under branches and the tree's trunk, but was spared in part by the SUV obstructing the fall.

— Erika Angulo, NBC news, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of deputy

Noun

But that hasn’t stopped out-of-state reenactors from worrying their muskets will be confiscated at the George Washington Bridge, says Justin Costantino, adjutant of the Long Island Companies of the 3rd New York Regiment.

— Allen G. Breed, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
In the months since fellow senior Legion executives suspended Abrahamson without pay from his statewide adjutant job in April, a number of the roughly 8,000 members in Idaho have called for a change in leadership.

— Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 13 July 2024

Definition of adjutant

Noun

Schnurr came to Cincinnati in 2008 as coadjutor archbishop and took over as archbishop about a year later, upon the retirement of former Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk.

— Dan Horn, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
By 1997, he was named coadjutor archbishop of Buenos Aires, assuming full leadership of the archdiocese the following year.

— Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Apr. 2025

Definition of coadjutor

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seconded

second fiddle

second fiddles

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“Second fiddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/second%20fiddle. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of second fiddle

noun

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