menial
noun
, -nyəl\
Definition of menial
(Entry 1 of 2)
menial
adjectiveDefinition of menial (Entry 2 of 2)
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Synonyms & Antonyms for menial
Synonyms: Noun
daily [British], domestic, flunky (also flunkey), lackey, retainer, servant, slavey, steward
Synonyms: Adjective
abject, base, humble, servile, slavish
Antonyms: Noun
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Examples of menial in a Sentence
Noun
immigrants to that country faced fierce prejudice and could expect to find work only as menialsAdjective
every command was obeyed in the menial manner of someone who seemed grateful just to be in the presence of a celebrityRecent Examples on the Web: Adjective
This photo exemplifies his ability to block out distractions, focus on whatever menial task is in front of him and win football games. — The Mmqb Staff, SI.com, "Favorite Storylines of the 2019 NFL Offseason," 30 Aug. 2019 Prisoners use them to arrange family visits, freeing warders from menial tasks to spend more time with prisoners. — The Economist, "What Britain’s private prisons can teach public ones," 2 Aug. 2019 Until recently, Swedes were not accustomed to hiring people for menial work, typically preferring to clean their own homes. — Peter S. Goodman, New York Times, "The Nordic Model May Be the Best Cushion Against Capitalism. Can It Survive Immigration?," 11 July 2019 On the $1/day that detainees at Adelanto Detention Facility can earn for working menial jobs, the decision comes down to maintaining hygiene versus managing hunger. — Stephie Grob Plante, Vox, "Some people held in border detention centers are being forced to bathe themselves with shampoo. The issue is far bigger than personal hygiene.," 3 July 2019 Rebounding at shootaround, squeegeeing off sweat, fetching water bottles, those sorts of menial tasks. — Alex Prewitt, SI.com, "Out of the Darkness: Isaiah Austin Searches for Peace Without the NBA," 14 June 2019 Employees of Worry Free dress in jumpsuits, get free room and board (in shoebox apartments), and spend their whole lives doing menial work. — David Sims, The Atlantic, "Sorry to Bother You Is Fizzy, Flawed, and Fascinating," 6 July 2018 Disappointed, Li Po returned home and accepted a menial job as a clerk for the county magistrate. — Yunte Huang, WSJ, "‘The Banished Immortal’ Review: ‘Heaven Begot a Talent Like Me’," 11 Jan. 2019 Many of their classmates are struggling, selling vegetables or doing menial labor. — Annie Gowen, The Seattle Times, "India’s angry young men and its lynch-mob crisis," 27 Aug. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'menial.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for menial
menial
noun
English Language Learners Definition of menial
(Entry 1 of 2)
menial
adjectiveEnglish Language Learners Definition of menial (Entry 2 of 2)
See the full definition for menial in the English Language Learners Dictionary
menial
adjective
, -nyəl\
Kids Definition of menial
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