Definition of justnext
1
2
3
as in only
nothing more than I was just kidding

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
as in right
as stated or indicated without the slightest difference the length of the curtain is just right

Synonyms & Similar Words

5
6
1
2
3
4
5
6

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective just differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of just are conscientious, honest, honorable, scrupulous, and upright. While all these words mean "having or showing a strict regard for what is morally right," just stresses conscious choice and regular practice of what is right or equitable.

workers given just compensation

How are the words conscientious and scrupulous related as synonyms of just?

Both conscientious and scrupulous imply an active moral sense governing all one's actions and painstaking efforts to follow one's conscience.

conscientious in the completion of her assignments
scrupulous in carrying out the terms of the will

Where would honest be a reasonable alternative to just?

In some situations, the words honest and just are roughly equivalent. However, honest stresses adherence to such virtues as truthfulness, candor, or fairness.

known for being honest in business dealings

When might honorable be a better fit than just?

While in some cases nearly identical to just, honorable suggests a firm holding to codes of right behavior and the guidance of a high sense of honor and duty.

a difficult but honorable decision

When is upright a more appropriate choice than just?

The synonyms upright and just are sometimes interchangeable, but upright implies a strict adherence to moral principles.

a stern and upright minister

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 just
Adverb
Staying upstairs is the quiet advantage with no lines, just an elevator ride to a nightcap under all that light. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026 The trove of women’s bloomers, drawers, knickers, brassieres, corsets, and girdles is just a small part of the school’s historic clothing collection, with images shared by the University of Wyoming Libraries via JSTOR. April White, JSTOR Daily, 2 Sep. 2026
Adjective
After just months into its mission, NASA engineers determined the spacecraft’s condition had deteriorated beyond repair. Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 23 Aug. 2026 And that a just society is one … in which people’s equal potential for flourishing and happiness is able to find expression. John Blake, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for just
Recent Examples of Synonyms for just
Adverb
  • Minute variations in the hand engraving, together with individual numbering, mean no two examples are exactly identical.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026
  • In this novel Amis is as unflappable as ever, and his dry humour and the dark undertone of the novel are exactly my taste.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026
Adverb
  • The applause barely stopped, and the crowd sang along to every word as well as danced in their seats throughout the entire two-and-a-half-hour show.
    Nada Aboul Kheir, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2026
  • That’s a lot to think about barely two months away from a consequential midterm election in which voters will choose a new second-in-command.
    AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Adverb
  • Lisa is seeing what this experience could be for her, which only emphasized just how bad her current situation on RHOSLC is.
    Tom Smyth, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026
  • What Espada and his club did across the ensuing six days must only enhance Crane’s outlook.
    Chandler Rome, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Adverb
  • Instant torque is wonderful right up until the rear tire decides to go left instead of forward.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2026
  • And a spectacle of unabashed, unpretentious joy sounds pretty good right about now doesn’t it?
    Jenny Bailly, Allure, 1 Sep. 2026
Adverb
  • Our first feature profile this week focuses on Cristiano Ronaldo, often referred to simply as CR7.
    , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Emotions that pile on top of each other and simply knock you out.
    John Biemer, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
Adverb
  • Looking back, the designer—who has been listening to a lot of Madonna lately—finds an unlikely analogy in an interview with the singer.
    David Foxley, Architectural Digest, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Luckily for us, the A-list has supplied plenty of inspiration lately.
    Alyssa Rotunno, InStyle, 27 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Golf equipment powerhouse Callaway ended its partnership with Good Good Golf amid the justified backlash over a video ad for a new Callaway driver that depicts a man aggressively shoving a woman to the ground.
    Greg Cote August 30, Miami Herald, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Our community carries decades of justified mistrust toward institutions that have not always earned it.
    Chuka Onuh, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Kitchenware, pantry staples and cookbook publishers are the logical next category.
    Ashley Lynch, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The handle of the pattern is relatively shallow, so from a trading perspective, placing a stop-loss slightly below its lower boundary near 512 provides a logical way to manage risk.
    Frank Cappelleri, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Just.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/just. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster