senior 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of seniornext
as in elderly
being of advanced years and especially past middle age bought special food intended for senior dogs

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

senior

2 of 2

noun

ˈsē-nyər How to pronounce senior (audio)
1
as in ancestor
one who is older than another since the man next door is my senior by a number of years, I always address him as "Mr. Barton"

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in superior
one who is above another in rank, station, or office the young attorney benefited from the mentorship of one of his seniors at the firm

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3
as in dean
the senior member of a group when he retires, she will be the senior on the faculty

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4
as in elder
a person of advanced years weekday movie matinees are often popular with seniors

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 senior
Adjective
The financing is structured as a senior secured loan facility, allowing Wolfspeed to draw funds in stages rather than receive the entire amount upfront. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2026 Southlake Carroll senior running back Brooks Biggers announced his commitment to Boston College on social media Tuesday. — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Oct. 2026
Noun
The Wednesday deliveries have a waitlist of over 150 seniors and veterans. — Olivia Young, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026 One of five seniors on a talented but young roster, Bryant is the floor captain in her first season as a starter. — Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for senior
Recent Examples of Synonyms for senior
  1. elderly
  2. ancestor
  3. superior
  4. dean
  5. elder
  6. old
  7. predecessor
  8. boss
Adjective
  • One example is Hilton’s care hub, which provides guidance and strategies for caring for elderly relatives, children, and mental health advice.
    — Sam Forsdick, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
  • In late May, Netanyahu and his limited security cabinet approved a three-phase proposal that would begin with a six-week ceasefire and the release of 33 elderly and wounded hostages before leading to the release of all others and an end of the war.
    — Jeremy Diamond, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of elderly
Noun
  • The discovery led to a complete redesign of the project, shifting the hotel inland to preserve the sacred site and honor the ancestors who remain there.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The small, troubled Trask family represents isolation, generational trauma and dysfunctional cycles in contrast to the large, loving and morally grounded Hamilton family, who are modeled after Steinbeck’s own maternal ancestors.
    — Senior Television, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of ancestor
Noun
  • But after Dougan raised the concerns, the lawsuit says, his superiors took disciplinary action against him.
    — Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Reuveni, who had been promoted to serve as the acting deputy director for the Office of Immigration Litigation, warned his superiors that the government might be in violation of the court order.
    — Eyal Press, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of superior
Noun
  • He was nominated for the award by his supervisor at Moraine Valley, Terra Jacobson, dean of Learning Resources, who also teaches a graduate class at Dominican, along with colleagues Marie Martino and Jayne Killackey.
    — Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Guzman, a former law school dean who became provost in 2023, faced similar tests over protests and free speech.
    — Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of dean
Noun
  • And, a consistent thread over the years, many students were interested in learning from their elders – everything from family histories to intergenerational advice and tough conversations about grief.
    — Janet W. Lee, NPR, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Often, the pincher is in the company of an elder who lectures to her.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of elder
Adjective
  • The proximity to his father was what worried Lorena Zschaber, a 40-year-old photographer, who watched the results roll in at an LGBTQ+ friendly bar in downtown Rio de Janeiro.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The 168-year-old magazine’s breakout journalism, its digital success, and a bit of good timing have given both Goldberg and Thompson plenty to brag about on the media podcast circuit.
    — Max Tani, semafor.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of old
Noun
  • Much of coaching football is taking ideas from your predecessors and adopting them as your own with a personal twist.
    — Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Williams and James entered the season under a lot of scrutiny given the impact their predecessors, Love and Jadarian Price, made last season on the Notre Dame offense.
    — Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of predecessor
Noun
  • Drivers knew the back entrances, the factory layouts, and the best path to the boss of a mom-and-pop workshop.
    — Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Serena tells him his former boss Elliott Wyatt recommended him highly, which is strange given his former reticence.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of boss

Phrases Containing senior

Browse Nearby Words

senility
senior
senior citizen
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Cite this Entry

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

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