MENIAL Synonyms: 76 Similar and Opposite Words

menial 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of menial

as in humble

showing, expressing, or offered in a spirit of humility or unseemly submissiveness every command was obeyed in the menial manner of someone who seemed grateful just to be in the presence of a celebrity

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menial

2 of 2

noun

ˈmē-nē-əl

as in servant

a person hired to perform household or personal services immigrants to that country faced fierce prejudice and could expect to find work only as menials

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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 menial

Adjective

Another major concern for Verbinski is how artificial intelligence is erasing entry-level positions, given that the new technology has primarily taken over menial tasks formerly attributed to interns, apprentices and assistants. — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 13 June 2026 The novel’s protagonist, Ro, is an isolated Korean-American woman working a menial job at an aquarium. — Tessa Yang, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026

Noun

Artificial intelligence has been heralded for its ability to optimize tasks, from the menial to the more complex. — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024 Outside the windowless offices, the anthropocene was over—somehow these hapless menials had missed its bang or its whimper—and the pre-human food chain was busy reasserting itself. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2023 See All Example Sentences for menial

Recent Examples of Synonyms for menial

Adjective

Apologies Gen Z loves accountability, and this was a big night for the humble apology.

— Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 1 Sep. 2026
Dolly understood the memory and emotion that can be imbued in even the most humble pieces of clothing.

— Jenny Bailly, Allure, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of humble

Noun

Wadsworth begins Clue as the seemingly subservient servant before gradually taking command of the entire picture.

— Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
When Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

— The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of servant

Adjective

Unfortunately, Trump takes servile flattery as his due.

— Robert Kagan, The Atlantic, 19 June 2026
Of course, all of this convenient acquiescence will sound familiar in the United States, where our own Congress and Department of Justice have been nothing if not servile to a brazenly corrupt executive.

— Daniel Alarcón, New Yorker, 4 June 2026

Definition of servile

Adjective

Howard recruited Winkler to star in his 1982 comedy Night Shift, as a meek morgue worker whose life is radicalized by a new hire played by Michael Keaton.

— Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Aug. 2026
Closer to home, Liverpool have shown the pitfalls of an expensive facelift, splurging record sums on Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak last summer only to free-fall from champions to a meek fifth-place finish.

— Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of meek

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mends

menial

menials

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“Menial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/menial. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of menial

adjective

noun

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