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adjective
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adverb
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adjective
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Synonyms
Examples of lesser in a Sentence
Adjective
The winner will receive $100; lesser amounts will be given to three runners-up.
A lesser man than he might have simply given up.
She agreed to plead guilty to a lesser charge.
Recent Examples on the Web
Staff Writer
follow, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2023
The story of 2022 (and 2021 to a lesser extent) was energy.
—
Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 31 Jan. 2023
Christina Newland, Vulture, 6 June 2024
Taken to a lesser extreme, intentionally abstaining from things like checking your phone for a couple hours before bed feels like common sense (and good advice!).
—
Celia Ford, Vox, 22 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for lesser ![](/dist-cross-dungarees/2024-06-24--16-08-26-f2gnl/images/svg/redesign/arrow-right-exemplar.svg)
Adjective
Toronto’s Fred VanVleet appears to be the top target, but Miami’s Kyle Lowry, Utah’s Mike Conley and, perhaps to a lesser extent, Charlotte’s Terry Rozier have been linked to the team at various points.
—Adverb
Ladd and Lake are often lesser celebrated these days in favor of those other steamy co-stars of the 1940s, Bogie and Bacall, but the Ladd-and-Lake noirs together are generally darker and sexier.
—These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lesser.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing lesser
Dictionary Entries Near lesser
Cite this Entry
“Lesser.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lesser. Accessed 2 Jul. 2024.
Kids Definition
lesser
1 of 2 adjective
less·er
ˈles-ər
: of smaller size or importance
lesser
2 of 2 adverbLegal Definition
lesser
adjective
less·er
ˈle-sər
: of less size, quality, degree, or significance
specifically
: of lower criminal liability
duress has been held a good defense to such lesser crimes as robbery, burglary and malicious mischief —
W. R. LaFave and A. W. Scott, Jr.
More from Merriam-Webster on lesser
Nglish: Translation of lesser for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of lesser for Arabic Speakers
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