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

The cabin also remains largely the same as the E-Ray’s, with only minor model-year updates. — Jerry Perez, The Drive, 3 Sep. 2026 The Malibu and Escape were totaled, but their drivers received only minor injuries, officials said. — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2026

Noun

The question was whether asking a minor to pose nude without parental knowledge or consent violated the city’s ethical standards. — Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 12 Aug. 2026 Investigators with Homeland Security Investigations later discovered child pornography depicting a second minor on a phone seized from Santana-Garcia at the time of his arrest, prosecutors said. — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 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

Gwyn’s, however, who Richard considers to be his inferior, has jettisoned into success and is in the running for a huge literary prize.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026
Curiously, cobalt was linked with a small rise in amyloid-beta proteins in the inferior temporal cortex.

— Mike McRae August 31, New Atlas, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of inferior

Adjective

That’s a dangerous prospect for any country, but especially for Singapore, crammed into a space smaller than New York City.

— Angelica Ang, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
But after home brewers were able to show the appeal of hoppy IPAs, malty stouts and citrusy wheat ales, that eventually led to a boom in small breweries.

— Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of small

Noun

After 25 years, juveniles sentenced to life in prison are entitled to a sentence review, where a judge considers modifying a defendant’s sentence — and weighs evidence of a defendant’s rehabilitation, maturity, remorse and background.

— Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
Gonzalez said investigative procedures do not change because a suspect is a juvenile and that detectives complete their investigations and submit cases to the appropriate prosecutor for consideration.

— Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of juvenile

Adjective

And some of the outlook may have less to do with the immediate issues and more about life stage.

— R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
The delicate shape still nods to classic ballet flats, but the slight heel gives everything a little more polish, making the pairing feel less Sunday lunch with your nan and more Copenhagen Fashion Week.

— Georgia Brown, Glamour, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of less

Adjective

England, Wales and Northern Ireland all set records for mean summer temperatures, though Scotland, which was cooler and less dry, tied its sixth warmest summer.

— ABC News, ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026
Line Islands corals show a similar mean increase but far wider scatter, which the researchers partly attribute to these records’ reliance on oxygen isotopes alone.

— Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of mean

Adjective

The delicate shape still nods to classic ballet flats, but the slight heel gives everything a little more polish, making the pairing feel less Sunday lunch with your nan and more Copenhagen Fashion Week.

— Georgia Brown, Glamour, 29 Aug. 2026
Early pothole testing actually caused a slight structural bend in a rear swingarm.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of slight

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 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of minor

adjective

noun

Example Sentences

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