minor 1 of 2

adjective

ˈmī-nər How to pronounce minor (audio)
Definition of minornext
1
as in lesser
having not so great importance or rank as another some minor official with an exaggerated sense of his own importance

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in smaller
of little or less value or merit a minor poet who is little read nowadays

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in small
lacking importance only a minor detail, which we can easily disregard for the moment

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

minor

2 of 2

noun

as in juvenile

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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 minor
Adjective
The Draconid meteor shower is a minor showing, with approximately five to 10 meteors visible per hour. — Karlee Van De Venter, Idaho Statesman, 6 Oct. 2026 Read More Apple’s second-generation AirPods Max have excellent sound and ANC performance, but are only a minor upgrade from the older pair. — Brad Bourque, The Verge, 6 Oct. 2026
Noun
He has also been charged with two counts of indecent acts on a minor. — ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026 All co-defendants in the new lawsuit have been accused of negligence in failing to protect a minor. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for minor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for minor
  1. lesser
  2. inferior
  3. small
  4. juvenile
  5. less
  6. mean
  7. slight
  8. adolescent
Adjective
  • Even lesser-scale incidents like the Varsity Blues college admissions scandal and the Volkswagen emissions scandal erode trust in the institutions that help make our society possible and push it forward.
    — Lindsey Witmer Collins, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Toronto’s Fred VanVleet appears to be the top target, but Miami’s Kyle Lowry, Utah’s Mike Conley and, perhaps to a lesser extent, Charlotte’s Terry Rozier have been linked to the team at various points.
    — Staff Writer Follow, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2023
Definition of lesser
Adjective
  • After years of looking inferior to its Western brethren, the NBA’s Eastern Conference is enjoying a renaissance, galvanized by a steady influx of talent and the relocation of star players to new teams.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Brandon put up big numbers against inferior opponents, but struggled against Texas and Auburn, and Heupel clearly doesn’t see this as a development year for his team.
    — Seth Emerson, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of inferior
Adjective
  • Only about a dozen countries have active programs, including small Caribbean island states.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The treasurer’s office says the administrative cost of processing very small payments can exceed their value.
    — Mark Lewyn, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of small
Noun
  • The juvenile, the report said, received medical attention for their injury.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Nine adults and five juveniles were inside those houses at the time.
    — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of juvenile
Adjective
  • Parents can contribute up to the lesser of the regular maximum contribution limit of $7,500 in 2026 or their child's total annual earnings.
    — Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2026
  • While the government touted Rubin’s overtime savings, Local 64 leaders said the cuts meant less staff and resulted in unsafe operations.
    — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of less
Adjective
  • There’s a wide array of options in this oddly-perfect elegant ballroom, along with a specialty chef that whips up a mean omelet before your eyes.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The releases buy time, but mean inventories are being consumed rather than rebuilt, making restocking a longer-term source of demand.
    — Matthew Tan, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of mean
Adjective
  • Valadao, a Republican from Hanford, has won the seat in six of the last seven elections despite the district’s slight Democratic tilt.
    — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026
  • In their paper from September, Minzer and his colleagues proved a slight variant of Khot’s second conjecture that has nearly the same consequences.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of slight
Noun
  • Getty An island that had spent decades pairing glamour with license was perhaps the wrong place to entrust an adolescent to unusually permissive relatives.
    — Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Aug. 2026
  • One adolescent possibly had contact with the bat, officials said.
    — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of adolescent

Browse Nearby Words

mink
minor
minorities
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Cite this Entry

“Minor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/minor. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on minor

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about minor

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