MINOR Synonyms: 165 Similar and Opposite Words

minor 1 of 2

adjective

ˈmī-nər

Definition of minor

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in smaller

of little or less value or merit a minor poet who is little read nowadays

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

Prosecutors caught the elder Spitze helping his son contact four minor victims to try silencing them with gifts or orders to destroy evidence. — Hudson Crozier, The Washington Examiner, 20 Aug. 2026 The fourth victim was a 77-year-old woman who suffered minor lacerations and was taken to the hospital. — Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 20 Aug. 2026

Noun

His arrest Saturday night follows the Friday arrest of two adults -- Keontae Muhammad, 18, and Tony Scott III, 19 -- and one minor charged in the kidnapping. — Grant Lancaster, Arkansas Online, 10 Aug. 2026 The unrelated minor, the cross-listed seminar, the summer spent on a research project outside a student’s major often foster the very adaptability, range, and connective thinking that employers want. — Christopher Rim, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for minor

Recent Examples of Synonyms for minor

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

But those three road losses were either in the postseason to a top-two team, at Oregon or the inexplicable 2024 loss to a far inferior Michigan team in The Game.

— Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026
The main disagreement centers on what the union says are inferior pay scales compared with nonunion workers.

— A.D. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of inferior

Adjective

The merch was originally made for OpenAI employees to purchase on an internal site, but the team decided to make a small capsule collection available to the public.

— T.M. Brown, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
Rival online retailers Ozon and Yandex Market use smaller depots spread over a wider network.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of small

Noun

Two other juveniles were injured, according to the Grand Prairie Police Department.

— Doug Myers, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
His adult co-defendant in Jackson’s killing was sentenced to 29 years, but juveniles, even those convicted of murder, cannot be held in custody in California beyond their 20s.

— Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of juvenile

Adjective

After a less-than-stellar 27-7 loss in their preseason opener against the Broncos last week, the Falcons look to turn the tables against the Colts during their second exhibition game Saturday in Indianapolis.

— AJC Sports, AJC.com, 22 Aug. 2026
Since the coupon amounts cannot change, the instrument that does is the bill, a Treasury security that matures in a year or less.

— James Broughel, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of less

Adjective

Storms could be severe, with a level 2 out of 5; a slight risk is in place.

— Laura Bannon, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
However, recent August polling shows Democrats are making ground on Republicans — still within the poll's margin of error — but with Talarico having a slight edge over Paxton.

— Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of slight

Noun

One adolescent possibly had contact with the bat, officials said.

— Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 3 Aug. 2026
YouTube comedian Bo Burnham directs this empathetic portrait of Kayla (Elsie Fisher), an insecure adolescent who posts motivational vlogs on YouTube while privately struggling with her self-image and burgeoning sexuality.

— Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 15 July 2026

Definition of adolescent

Browse Nearby Words

mink

minor

minorities

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Minor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/minor. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of minor

adjective

noun

Example Sentences

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