LESSER: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for LESSER?

Need another word that means the same as “lesser”? Find 19 synonyms for “lesser” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Lesser” are: less important, minor, secondary, subsidiary, marginal, ancillary, auxiliary, supplementary, supplemental, peripheral, subordinate, inferior, second-class, subservient, lowly, humble, servile, menial, mean

Lesser as an Adjective

Definitions of "Lesser" as an adjective

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “lesser” as an adjective can have the following definitions:

• Smaller in size or amount or value.
• Lower in rank or quality.
• Used in names of animals and plants which are smaller than similar kinds, e.g. lesser spotted woodpecker, lesser celandine.
• Of less size or importance.
• Not so great or important as the other or the rest.

Synonyms of "Lesser" as an adjective (19 Words)

ancillary	Furnishing added support. An ancillary pump.
auxiliary	(of troops) engaged in the service of a nation at war but not part of the regular army. The main library and its auxiliary branches.
humble	(of a thing) of modest pretensions or dimensions. A humble cottage.
inferior	Of low or inferior quality. Schooling in inner city areas was inferior to that in the rest of the country.
less important	Lower in quality.
lowly	(of an organism) primitive or simple. She d been too good for her lowly position.
marginal	Just barely adequate or within a lower limit. The marginal tax rates on these incomes rise to as much as 80 per cent in some republics.
mean	So small in amount as to deserve contempt. Chok d with ambition of the meaner sort.
menial	(of work) not requiring much skill and lacking prestige. Menial factory jobs.
minor	Of a key or mode based on a minor scale and tending to produce a sad or pensive effect. A minor official.
peripheral	(of a device) able to be attached to and used with a computer, though not an integral part of it. Peripheral issues.
second-class	Of inferior status or quality.
secondary	Coming after, less important than, or resulting from someone or something else that is primary. The plot is of secondary importance what matters most is the relationships between the characters.
servile	Submissive or fawning in attitude or behavior. The servile condition of the peasants.
subordinate	Unable to stand alone syntactically as a complete sentence. A subordinate kingdom.
subservient	Serving or acting as a means or aid. She was subservient to her parents.
subsidiary	Less important than but related or supplementary to something. A subsidiary flue of the main chimney.
supplemental	Functioning in a supporting capacity. Many premature infants need supplemental oxygen soon after birth.
supplementary	Completing or enhancing something. The development of databases supplementary to existing ones.

Usage Examples of "Lesser" as an adjective

• The lesser anteater.
• They nest mostly in Alaska and to a lesser extent in Siberia.
• The lesser powers of Europe.
• He was convicted of a lesser assault charge.
• You're looking down your nose at us lesser mortals.