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

Jones-Priest ran it in again from a yard out and Gabe Guevera booted a 27-yard field goal with five seconds left before the intermission to give Martin a 17-3 lead at the break.

— Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Nov. 2026
Jayden Daniels threw his third touchdown pass of the game, a 32-yarder to Stefon Diggs with 57 seconds left, and the Washington Commanders rallied to defeat the New York Giants 24-21 on Thursday night in what was essentially a must-win game.

— CBS News, CBS News, 13 Nov. 2026

Definition of second

Noun

In Facebook groups for Astro owners, users have complained of diminished customer service and griped that Amazon's AIexa+ AI assistant isn't supported on Astro.

— Annie Palmer, CNBC, 8 Nov. 2026
Newsweek’s reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story.

— Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2026

Definition of assistant

Noun

While Pentagon funding is the most obvious must for some Republicans, others would push to include measures to address the cost of living, elections, farm aid, and more.

— Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 11 Nov. 2026
He’s charged with two counts of leaving the scene of an accident, failure to render aid, and failure to obey a traffic control signal.

— Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 11 Nov. 2026

Definition of aid

Noun

The Kommersant newspaper reported that Sergei Zavorotniy, once a top aide of Mykola Azarov, who served as Ukraine’s prime minister from 2010 to 2014, was hospitalized after a car exploded on a street in Chertanovo, a district of the Russian capital.

— Reuters, NBC news, 13 Nov. 2026
Trump's aides are discussing the possibility of closing loopholes in existing trade measures, including the use of export licensing and preventing the ability of Chinese firms to use advanced chips over the internet through remote access.

— ABC News, ABC News, 13 Nov. 2026

Definition of aide

Noun

The sheriff's office said a Monroe County deputy took over the pursuit when the Chevrolet exited I-75 in Erie Township, Michigan.

— CBS News, CBS News, 8 Nov. 2026
Sacramento County sheriff’s deputies and Sacramento Regional Transit police officers also responded to investigate the incident.

— Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 8 Nov. 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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Style

“Second fiddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/second%20fiddle. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of second fiddle

noun

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