lesser

adjective

ˈle-sər How to pronounce lesser (audio)
Definition of lessernext
as in less
having not so great importance or rank as another it was the lesser evil of the two choices

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 lesser In that earlier trial, three other members of the Oath Keepers were found guilty of lesser charges. — Jan Wolfe and C. Ryan Barber, WSJ, 23 Jan. 2023 Minuta, Hackett and Moerschel were acquitted of lesser charges. — Michael Kunzelman and Alanna Durkin Richer, Anchorage Daily News, 23 Jan. 2023 Upon its debut, the reborn Defender appeared both as the mainstay four-door 110 and the two-door 90—which is lesser in length but greater in charm. — Joe Lorio, Car and Driver, 19 Jan. 2023 Prosecutors tend to settle for plea deals on related charges – pimping, pandering or money laundering – with lesser sentences. — USA Today, 19 Jan. 2023 See All Example Sentences for lesser
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lesser
  1. less
  2. lower
Adjective
  • This lounge set will give you one less headache on travel day.
    — Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 8 Aug. 2026
  • The lumberjacks had used their trucks to block access to the Quebec border in protest of Canadian loggers who were stealing their jobs by working for less.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of less
Adjective
  • Despite those lower court rulings, the practice has continued nationally, said Gregory Chen, the senior director of government relations for the Immigration Lawyers Association.
    — Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 3 Sep. 2025
  • And ultimately, the Supreme Court overruled those lower court rulings and did declare the embryos as children qualifying under the wrongful death statute.
    — Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2024
Definition of lower

Browse Nearby Words

lessens
lesser
lesson
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Cite this Entry

“Lesser.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lesser. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on lesser

Nglish: Translation of lesser for Spanish Speakers

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