1
as in derivative
taken or created from something original or basic
history textbooks are secondary sources for historical information and do not represent original research
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in minor
of little or less value or merit
we need to focus on getting the groceries bought and the rent paid—everything else is secondary
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in dependent
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 secondary
Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
He is expected to rejoin a secondary that is in dire need of a boost after giving up 450 passing yards in Week 2 to Giants quarterback Russell Wilson and 298 passing yards to Bears quarterback Caleb Williams on Sunday.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Sep. 2025
Santhosh Girirajan, The Conversation, 7 Oct. 2025
That has forced investors to rely on secondary, non-government data to gauge the timing and extent of Fed rate cuts.
—CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for secondary
Adjective
And while the safety unit took a step forward with the addition of Minkah Fitzpatrick, the loss of Jordan Poyer and Jevon Holland meant the entire secondary had to be reworked which has led to growing pains for the unit overall.
—Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
He is expected to rejoin a secondary that is in dire need of a boost after giving up 450 passing yards in Week 2 to Giants quarterback Russell Wilson and 298 passing yards to Bears quarterback Caleb Williams on Sunday.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Sep. 2025
Noun
Sometimes, a primary variant and a secondary variant together can cause two different disorders in the same person, such as Prader-Willi syndrome and Pitt-Hopkins syndrome.
—Santhosh Girirajan, The Conversation, 7 Oct. 2025
That has forced investors to rely on secondary, non-government data to gauge the timing and extent of Fed rate cuts.
—CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for secondary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for secondary
Adjective
-
Companies should track short interest levels and derivative trading around the time of the short report.—
Tim Reynolds,
Fortune,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Pending review of the documents, the two groups could file a derivative lawsuit, which allows shareholders to act on behalf of a company and sue the corporation’s own directors and officers, as well as other third parties who may have harmed the company.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Russell’s crash in 2023 showed that a minor mistake can wipe you off the podium.—
Madeline Coleman,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
In susceptible people, the immune system reacts too strongly to minor exposures, creating chronic inflammation.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The Social Security Administration (SSA) issues monthly benefits to more than 70 million people nationwide, a group that includes retirees, disabled workers, and the dependents of deceased wage earners.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Sep. 2025
-
Natalia’s story grabbed the attention of the public in 2019 when Indiana prosecutors leveled charges against the Barnetts for allegedly neglecting a dependent.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Allison cites a decline in overt sexism aimed at women’s sports, a fading narrative that women are inferior athletes, and less sexist media coverage of women’s sports.—
Ben Pickman,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
-
In these markets, PMs offer an inferior product for core sports bettors, with a fraction of the markets, worse speed/latency and no bonusing/promotional reinvestment to keep bettors active.—
Pia Singh,
CNBC,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Put simply, the theory says the president should be able to issue orders to subordinates and to fire them at will.—
Graham G. Dodds,
The Conversation,
7 Oct. 2025
-
The third-term sheriff is accused of repeatedly harassing his female subordinates and threatening his chief deputy to keep it quiet.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
His most successful year came in 2022 when the junior hauled in 34 catches, good for 533 yards and six touchdowns — all single-season career highs for the then-Buckeye.—
David K. Li,
NBC news,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Baker was a junior at the University of South Carolina and a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Screening colonoscopies are recommended for patients starting at 45 and the mean age of participants in the study was around 55.—
Adrianna Rodriguez,
USA Today,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Get a lean, mean cleaning machine for less thanks to these Prime Big Deal Days robot vacuum and mop deals that are still available.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Passage rates in both subjects were up by roughly a percentage point since last year.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Weather sealing keeps it safe in tough conditions, and the autofocus system handles fast-moving subjects with ease.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
9 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Secondary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/secondary. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share