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
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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
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of secondary
Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Jan. 2025
Signs With Steelers Last season, the defensive secondary was a major issue.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 June 2025
Brittney Melton, NPR, 6 Aug. 2025
Earlier on Wednesday, the same White House official said the U.S. was still expected to impose secondary sanctions against Russia on Friday, after a 10-day deadline that Trump imposed is to expire.
—Michelle L. Price, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for secondary
Adjective
He’s shown a healthy balance of emphasis on his defensive fronts and his secondaries in his time calling defenses, and the Cowboys need to plug holes in each.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Jan. 2025
Signs With Steelers Last season, the defensive secondary was a major issue.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 June 2025
Noun
Trump is threatening secondary sanctions and tariffs on Russian energy exports, which would penalize countries like China that purchase their oil and gas, NPR's Charles Maynes tells Up First.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 6 Aug. 2025
Earlier on Wednesday, the same White House official said the U.S. was still expected to impose secondary sanctions against Russia on Friday, after a 10-day deadline that Trump imposed is to expire.
—Michelle L. Price, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for secondary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for secondary
Adjective
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The new rate only applies to semi-finished copper products, such as copper pipes, wires, rods, sheets, and tubes, as well as copper-intensive derivative products, such as pipe fittings, cables, and connectors, according to the White House fact sheet.—
Naomi Lim,
The Washington Examiner,
30 July 2025
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When a contract ends, or if a company violates its terms, the individual’s data must, by law, be erased from the model, its training set, and any derivative products.—
Jason Snyder,
Forbes.com,
27 July 2025
Adjective
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The elderly man suffered minor injuries, and toughed out the blow, refusing medical attention at the scene of the attack, authorities said.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
7 Aug. 2025
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In April, the government quietly revoked the visas of thousands of students who had allegedly committed minor legal infractions before abruptly reversing the policy.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
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There are a set of nationwide rules already in place for SNAP benefits: general work requirements and additional ones for able-bodied adults without dependents.—
Lisa Hagen,
Hartford Courant,
5 Aug. 2025
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Currently, adults up to age 54 without disabilities and dependents are required to work, volunteer or attend training for 80 hours monthly to apply for and keep the food aid.—
Francine Knowles,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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In this now-infamous opinion, Taney declared that Black Americans were inferior and had no rights under the US Constitution.—
Kathleen Toner,
CNN Money,
1 Aug. 2025
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The creation of a tunnel that could bypass the most congested areas on the way to BNA would make the conventional route comparatively inferior.—
Charles Singh,
The Tennessean,
29 July 2025
Noun
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Former Pflugerville Police Chief Jason O’Malley pointed a gun at a subordinate inside a police building this year, according to a third-party investigation that spurred O'Malley and two commanders to exit the force.—
Dante Motley,
Austin American Statesman,
31 July 2025
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Why this is happening is clear from a radio intercept about a similar incident, shared with CNN, in which a Russian commander can clearly be heard ordering a subordinate be tied up in this way as punishment for desertion.—
Andrew Carey,
CNN Money,
28 July 2025
Noun
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The 6-foot-3, 310-pound redshirt junior made a dozen starts from there.—
Oliver Thomas,
Forbes.com,
5 Aug. 2025
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The trio of Cincinnati transfer Tony Johnson, true freshman Malachi Toney and junior Ray Ray Joseph are competing to be UM’s primary slot receiver but Johnson and Toney could also get reps on the outside.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
3 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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There aren’t many actors, after all, who can convincingly play both sad-sack real estate salesman Shelly Levene in a Broadway production of Glengarry Glen Ross and a lean, mean killing machine.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Aug. 2025
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The researchers recruited 68 adults, with a mean age of 64, who had confirmed medial knee OA.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The Studio Museum returns, on Nov. 15, with installations devoted to its collection and history, plus a show of electric-light works by Tom Lloyd, who was the subject of the museum’s first-ever exhibition, in 1968.—
Shauna Lyon,
New Yorker,
15 Aug. 2025
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As economist Hugh Rockoff writes, economic metrics have been the subject of political controversy since they were invented.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
15 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Secondary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/secondary. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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