SECONDS Synonyms: 85 Similar and Opposite Words

seconds 1 of 3

noun (1)

plural of second

as in minutes

a very small space of time I'll be ready in a second

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

seconds

2 of 3

noun (2)

plural of second

as in discards

something separated from a group or lot for not being as good as the others the slightly flawed linens were sold as seconds

Synonyms & Similar Words

seconds

3 of 3

verb

present tense third-person singular of second

as in sides (with)

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 seconds

Noun

From when the bucket drops to when Carrie steps off the stage, in real time, is about 90 seconds. — Alex Zalben, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2026 Thomasville fell behind for the first time in the game with 70 seconds left. — Jack Leo, AJC.com, 9 Oct. 2026 Of the seven full drives in the first half, all ended in touchdowns except for an interception by Keller’s Cooper Glaze with 56 seconds left in the first quarter with the scored tied 7-7. — Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 2026 Lindo went back inside the club, which was closed at this point, and came back outside seconds later holding a gun in his right hand, pointing it at the ground, the lawsuit states. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026 The confusion came in the final seconds of OT when New York trailed and Angel Reese was at the foul line. — ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026 Same lethal drug, different outcomes After the pentobarbital was administered Wednesday night, Howard took a couple of breaths and gasped, the AP reported, before making snoring sounds that grew quiet within 30 seconds. — Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026 Our system is able to measure all visible points of measurement in seconds. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026 Quarterback Tayven Jackson tossed two touchdown passes to tight end Dylan Wade, while Noe Ruelas clinched the win with a 34-yard field goal with just 57 seconds remaining. — Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for seconds

Noun

Still, the episode might’ve been better at a cable or streaming length, with 15-20 more minutes to play with.

— Noel Murray, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
Drummond flirted with a preseason triple-double and posted eight points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals in 20 minutes.

— Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of minutes

Noun

And defunct iIndustry supplied artistic entrepreneurs with adaptable real-estate discards, like London’s Bankside Power Station, which evolved into Herzog & de Meuron’s Tate Modern.

— Justin Davidson, Curbed, 29 July 2026
Li has dedicated freezer bags for different dishes, like vegetable scraps for soups or fruit discards for smoothies.

— Emily Siner, NPR, 27 June 2026

Definition of discards

Verb

In the film, which earned more than $598 million worldwide, Tillman portrays Captain Bledsoe, a submarine operator who assists Ethan Hunt (played by Tom Cruise) in his mission to defeat an artificial intelligence villain.

— Laura Payne, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Oct. 2026
Its robotic guidance assists surgeons during the implant placement process by providing real-time navigation and exceptional precision while still allowing the surgeon to maintain complete clinical control.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of assists

Noun

Gabe wears a bracelet containing some of her final heartbeats and her fingerprint.

— Ashley Sharp, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026
Others include Rafael Lozano-Hemmer’s light and sound installation Pulse Topology (2021), installed in 2023, in which visitors’ heartbeats inform the pulse of lights hanging overhead.

— Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of heartbeats

Verb

This step introduces air into the eggs, which aids in leavening and keeps the blondies from baking up too dense.

— Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart, 27 Sep. 2026
The absence of the SLC women and their tension with Barlow aids the convivial atmosphere, but Lisa isn’t completely safe from a whacking.

— Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of aids

Noun

That night’s show was reduced from 29 to 19 songs, between the concert running late from the interruption and Toomey likely not being able to duplicate Castronovo’s lead singing moments as well as his drumming.

— Chris Willman, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
From its opening moments, Zoe Kazan’s epic, sprawling Netflix adaptation of John Steinbeck’s 1952 novel, East of Eden, announces that the monstrous Cathy Ames (played by Florence Pugh) is the true center of the story.

— Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of moments

Verb

Besides paternity and maternity leave, the company helps pay off student loans, provides support for aging parents, reimburses IVF and surrogacy expenses, and offers support programs for neurodiverse employees and parents of neurodiverse children.

— Tamlin Magee, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
Taking a long-term view, often 10, 20 or even 30 years ahead, helps guide estate and wealth transfer decisions, Clapp said.

— Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of helps

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“Seconds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/seconds. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of seconds

noun (1)

noun (2)

verb

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