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

For a few seconds, though, the coach and quarterback stopped. — Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026 Mateen Bhaghani kicked a 38-yard field goal in the final seconds to give UCLA a 24-17 halftime advantage. — Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026 The Spectrum rocket faltered on its first test flight in March 2025, when the launcher spun out of control less than 20 seconds after liftoff and crashed near the launch pad. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 6 Sep. 2026 Holding a 17-7 lead with 90 seconds left, Boise State forced Oregon into a punt at midfield. — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 6 Sep. 2026 With just 19 seconds left, Dante Moore found Jamari Johnson with a 27-yard pass to close the game to 17-14 at the break. — Chantz Martin Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2026 Chardonnay, an Australian shepherd, recently executed an extraordinary feat, jumping along the backs of 56 people in 60 seconds. — Mike Snider, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026 Malkovich sat in silence for a few seconds, before pronouncing himself unable to think at the moment. — Nate Jones, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026 Just take a couple of deep breaths for 60 seconds, make sure your exhale is longer than your inhale, and see how your posture and feelings shift toward a calmer state. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for seconds

Noun

Sam Lee Matias Fernandez-Pardo (£51m), Newcastle Matias Fernandez-Pardo came on to replace Joe Willock after 64 minutes and slotted into the No 10 position, just off Yoane Wissa, in Jaissle’s 4-2-3-1 formation.

— Chris Waugh, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Reduce the heat and simmer for 4–5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly.

— Monti Carlo, AJC.com, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of minutes

Noun

And defunct iIndustry supplied artistic entrepreneurs with adaptable real-estate discards, like London’s Bankside Power Station, which evolved into Herzog & de Meuron’s Tate Modern.

— Justin Davidson, Curbed, 29 July 2026
Li has dedicated freezer bags for different dishes, like vegetable scraps for soups or fruit discards for smoothies.

— Emily Siner, NPR, 27 June 2026

Definition of discards

Verb

Chan took credit for some of the success of Cluely, a controversial AI startup whose app assists users in situations like job interviews in real time.

— Max Tani, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Gonzales and Feehan were active-duty soldiers supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, which assists partner forces in securing a lasting defeat of ISIS.

— Josh Meyer, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of assists

Noun

Simpson was diagnosed with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, a rare heart condition that can cause irregular heartbeats and sudden cardiac death in seemingly healthy individuals, per John Hopkins Medicine.

— Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 20 Aug. 2026
Researchers often use heart rate variability − the small differences in time between heartbeats − as one way to assess how that system is functioning.

— Donnisa Edmonds, jsonline.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of heartbeats

Noun

This is where the Krafts have enjoyed so many moments, worlds away from any roaring crowd or national television audience or expectation to perform at the highest level for one of the most iconic franchises in sports.

— Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
When halftime arrived, the Marching 100 delivered one of the afternoon’s signature moments.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of moments

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“Seconds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/seconds. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of seconds

noun (1)

noun (2)

verb

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