SECONDS Synonyms: 85 Similar and Opposite Words

seconds 1 of 3

noun (1)

plural of second

as in minutes

a very small space of time I'll be ready in a second

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

seconds

2 of 3

noun (2)

plural of second

as in discards

something separated from a group or lot for not being as good as the others the slightly flawed linens were sold as seconds

Synonyms & Similar Words

seconds

3 of 3

verb

present tense third-person singular of second

as in sides (with)

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 seconds

Noun

Pimblett, who closed a +120 underdog, blocked a roundkick, shot in and quickly applied a front headlock to put Saint Denis to sleep for the win in 52 seconds. — W.g. Ramirez, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026 The blue-gray sunray dial centers around a highly legible perpetual calendar display that shows the seconds, minutes, hours, days, months, years, and phases of the moon. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 11 July 2026 Courtney and McBride snagged offensive rebounds before Miles hit two free throws to make it 88-83 with 53 seconds left. — ABC News, 11 July 2026 Research confirms that voluntary slow breathing measurably increases parasympathetic activity, which is why even 60 to 90 seconds between meetings can change the quality of the next conversation in ways that no amount of mental preparation can. — Joy Nissen, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026 In that respect, yes, these players could see two seconds into the future, five seconds into the future. — Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 10 July 2026 Heat the vinegar first (microwave for 30–45 seconds), as warm vinegar cuts through buildup way better. — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 10 July 2026 As the final seconds ticked off the clock in the first-round loss to UCLA, the realization of its finality began to settle in. — Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 July 2026 In Saturday’s 79-76 victory over the Nets, Acuff scored 25 points and Clifford hit a game-winning 3-pointer with five seconds remaining. — Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 6 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for seconds

Noun

The heavy use of VAR has also interrupted the flow of games by halting matches that weren’t meant to be halted, leaving everyone standing on the field while the referee goes off to watch TV, sometimes for minutes at a time.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026
After having the ball inside Argentina's half of the pitch for seemingly minutes, Switzerland was able to at last generate two decent looks at a goal, but each time the shot was saved by Argentina keeper Emiliano Martínez.

— Andrew Greif, NBC news, 12 July 2026

Definition of minutes

Verb

According to Damien O’Farrell, a global mobility specialist who assists individuals relocating to Italy, there are three key elements to consider when choosing the best place to retire in Italy.

— Elizabeth Heath, Travel + Leisure, 10 July 2026
Exploits will trigger guest-side actions alone to corrupt the host kernel’s shadow page, a data structure in the host that assists in the address translation.

— Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 8 July 2026

Definition of assists

Noun

In response to safety concerns, several medications have been removed from the list eligible for refills, including a drug for irregular heartbeats.

— ABC News, ABC News, 6 July 2026
As a data point, heart rate variability is the measurement of how much the time between your heartbeats may slightly fluctuate.

— Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 5 July 2026

Definition of heartbeats

Verb

Attendees can learn how compost improves soil structure, aids moisture retention and supplies slow-release nutrients, and can join composting experts to explore backyard and worm composting through live demonstrations.

— Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 12 July 2026
This move prevents him from becoming a free agent next summer and potentially aids the Cavaliers' pursuit of LeBron James, avoiding season-long drama.

— Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026

Definition of aids

Noun

At the same time, the episode still leaves space for slower beats, including some joyously non-essential downtime moments.

— Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 14 July 2026
In keeping with the idea of expansion, Flanagan’s story further builds out the mythology of Carrie, using the novel’s often underused moments as launching pads.

— Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 13 July 2026

Definition of moments

Cite this Entry

Style

“Seconds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/seconds. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of seconds

noun (1)

noun (2)

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on seconds

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

bibelot

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes