second fiddle

Definition of second fiddlenext

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 Mesut has always played second fiddle to his handsome younger brother, Sheikh Ferit (Feyyaz Duman). Catherine Bray, Variety, 15 Feb. 2026 The Winter Olympics might play second fiddle to its warmer, sunnier summer version, but there is still a lot of history behind it. Bob Harkins, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2026 Lucas Grabeel played second fiddle to Tisdale as Sharpay's brother, Ryan Evans. Andrea Wurzburger, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026 That statement was viewed with suspicion by many Republicans who see Rubio not willing to play second fiddle to Vance. Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 13 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for second fiddle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for second fiddle
Noun
  • Consider this top the easiest way to look put together in seconds.
    Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 21 Apr. 2026
  • The cell maintains this state with machines called electron transport chains that pump out thousands of protons per second.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Villa Park assistant coach Ted Lawton raced to congratulate Urbanski while the Spartans’ players swarmed Noriega.
    Dan Albano, Oc Register, 24 Apr. 2026
  • The many attending assistants around her eventually disperse — a little hesitantly because Sam is in the middle of preparing a new show — and the two withdraw to Sam’s cavernous studio.
    Jake Coyle, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The victim was transported the South Shore Hospital after receiving aid on the scene.
    Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 19 Apr. 2026
  • And by the way, there’s a humanitarian component here as well in terms of fertilizer, food, and other aid agencies that need that open for the ongoing crises in Africa.
    NBC news, NBC news, 19 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Seventeen in 1941, Betty forewent college to serve in wartime as a Red Cross nurse’s aide.
    John McPhee, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
  • Unlike other recent Cabinet departures, Chavez-DeRemer’s exit was announced by a White House aide, not by the president on his social media account.
    Seung Min Kim, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Blair previously served as one of White House chief of staff Susie Wiles’s deputies.
    Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 22 Apr. 2026
  • Ann-Marie Guglieri, Yale's executive deputy director/chief operating officer of athletics, and Mary Berdo, deputy director of athletics, the second- and third-ranked positions in the department under Chun, purchased a house together in Milford, Connecticut, in June 2018, the deed shows.
    Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • At the time, there were an estimated 450 greater adjutant storks left in the region.
    Kyla Mandel, TIME, 20 Feb. 2025
  • Since 2019, when Woodward took over as the Gooding adjutant, that totals more than $23,000, according to an accounting obtained by the Statesman from the county clerk through a public records request.
    Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 13 July 2024
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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Second fiddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/second%20fiddle. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.

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