MORE OR LESS Synonyms: 121 Similar and Opposite Words

more or less

adverb

Definition of more or less

as in almost

very close to but not completely the lot is 16 acres more or less

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in pretty

to some degree or extent most couples in the survey said that they were more or less happy in their marriage

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in approximately

close to but not exactly the box weighs 60 pounds more or less

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 more or less From that point on, Kusama’s absorbing and fresh art, once charged by avant-garde energies, became more or less a meaning-free expression of market principles, an exercise in branding. — Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026 That more or less happened this week, with dozens of Fox News segments about Piker, portraying him as a left-wing kingmaker and the id of the socialist movement. — David Weigel, semafor.com, 28 Aug. 2026 Filling empty beds The national incarceration rate – which includes both jails, for short-term detention, and prisons, for sentences of more than a year – has more or less crept downward since 2010. — Ella Siegrist, The Conversation, 28 Aug. 2026 That all happens within the first 15 seconds; the remainder of the ad is more or less incoherent. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for more or less

Recent Examples of Synonyms for more or less

Adverb

Brentford have almost qualified for Europe in the past two seasons.

— Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Carley Garner, a commodity market strategist and broker at DeCarley Trading, said smaller futures and oil ETFs such as the United States Oil Fund (ticker USO) have made speculation possible for traders at almost any level of experience or funding.

— Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of almost

Adverb

Two Democrats buck their party A pretty unusual thing happened this afternoon, the second day of the House of Representatives' return from August recess.

— Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
Even her beauty look was understated, from her unfussy low bun to her pretty pale-pink square manicure.

— Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of pretty

Adverb

It’s been more than a week since deadly flash floods killed hundreds and left thousands missing along the China-Nepal border — and practically nothing is known about the victims on the Chinese side.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026
Fshaoes Oversized Button-Down Shirt Another billowy option, this oversized button-down shirt is practically begging to be worn as a beach cover-up.

— Isabel Bekele, InStyle, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of practically

Adverb

If your lawn grass was already quite thin, topdressing with a thin layer of quality topsoil is recommended.

— Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 Sep. 2026
As a shocking chart by the Wall Street Journal illustrates, the amount of capital spent on non-data center construction in the US has quite literally fallen off a cliff, while the capital deployed to build data centers soars into the stratosphere.

— Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of quite

Adverb

At about midnight, the mayflies stopped flying and the fish disappeared.

— Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 6 Sep. 2026
Karina, a former Category 4 hurricane spinning about 755 miles east-northeast of Hilo, Hawaii, and Tropical Storm Marie, churning about 705 miles west of the southern tip of Baja California.

— Dennis Romero, NBC news, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of about

Adverb

Alquézar has overseen the team’s growth from roughly a dozen staff to nearly 20, backed by new ownership from Quantum Pacific and the arrival of coaches Simone Salvà and Vicky Travascio.

— Andrew Rice, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Chakravarthy joined Adobe as a top executive nearly seven years ago.

— Jeff Marks, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of nearly

Adverb

For reference, antimony is a relatively scarce metal/mineral used in things like flame retardants, batteries, electronics, and defense applications.

— Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
Its relatively rapid custom timeline—delivering boots in 6 to 12 months—is also a plus.

— Christine Lennon, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of relatively

Browse Nearby Words

more or less

moreover

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Style

“More or less.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/more%20or%20less. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of more or less

adverb

Example Sentences

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