1
as in ranks
the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement
the greasy spoon restaurant was several rungs below the kind of establishment in which we usually dined
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in canes
Scottish
a heavy rigid stick used as a weapon or for punishment
the watchman usually carried a stout oak rung
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rungs
Wet rungs and soapy hands are a bad combination, so dry your grip frequently.
—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2026
Those rungs are numbered 0 to 10.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
Coaching licenses typically operate in a tier system, with the bottom rungs allowing people to coach youth soccer.
—Doha Madani, NBC news, 19 Mar. 2026
Adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine are the four bases of the genetic code that make up the rungs of the double helix structure of DNA by forming specific pairs (adenine pairs with thymine, guanine with cytosine).
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 17 Mar. 2026
For Sid, however, this sudden access to higher social rungs is a unique and complicated opportunity.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 15 Mar. 2026
The assurance of being yourself and being liked, fulfilling your purpose while climbing life’s rungs, has obvious appeal in youth, before compromises and obligations start to pile too high.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026
Whispers of their actions reached the highest rungs at Elliman, according to multiple people who worked for the company.
—James D. Walsh, Curbed, 10 Mar. 2026
The Dubai Tennis Championships is an ATP 500 event, a couple of rungs down from the Grand Slams.
—Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2026
Those rungs are numbered 0 to 10.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
Coaching licenses typically operate in a tier system, with the bottom rungs allowing people to coach youth soccer.
—Doha Madani, NBC news, 19 Mar. 2026
Adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine are the four bases of the genetic code that make up the rungs of the double helix structure of DNA by forming specific pairs (adenine pairs with thymine, guanine with cytosine).
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 17 Mar. 2026
For Sid, however, this sudden access to higher social rungs is a unique and complicated opportunity.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 15 Mar. 2026
The assurance of being yourself and being liked, fulfilling your purpose while climbing life’s rungs, has obvious appeal in youth, before compromises and obligations start to pile too high.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026
Whispers of their actions reached the highest rungs at Elliman, according to multiple people who worked for the company.
—James D. Walsh, Curbed, 10 Mar. 2026
The Dubai Tennis Championships is an ATP 500 event, a couple of rungs down from the Grand Slams.
—Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rungs
Noun
-
Ghalibaf came through the ranks of the guard himself and is believed to be among the inner circle of Mojtaba Khamenei, the ayatollah's son and successor.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Johnson’s legacy includes his son Bret and Rob Johnson, who were standout quarterbacks at El Toro and played in the college and professional ranks.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
This will help the remaining canes and new stems have the room to grow more easily.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Repeating this cycle helps replace older canes with new, stronger growth.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Ames had her home tested after that, and those results confirmed the house had mold − with high enough levels in the air alone that experts told the Ames family to leave their home immediately.—
Madeline Mitchell,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The Committee for Better Banks, which is helping organize union efforts alongside the CWA, hopes the movement will one day expand to Charlotte as the union pushes for higher pay, staffing levels and benefits.—
Chase Jordan
April 2,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The video shows officers used Tasers again and struck him with batons, but Runyen in the video said both were ineffective.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Right, Rodney King was batons, Eric Garner with a chokehold.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Years in the making At the center of the prosecution is a sweeping federal indictment that paints a stark picture of Venezuela’s upper echelons of power, alleging that for more than two decades the country’s leadership turned the machinery of the state into a vehicle for narcotics trafficking.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Since the war began, monitors estimate that up to a third of strikes have targeted the top echelons and major bases of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and its Basij volunteers tasked with enforcing loyalty to Iran’s theocratic rulers.—
Sarah el Deeb,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The City of Sacramento is currently facing a $66 million budget deficit, and there's concern that some violence prevention efforts and police positions could be cut beginning in July.—
James Taylor,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
This range of positions—curator, writer, producer, museum guide, educator—made my curatorial approach more adaptable.—
Raphael Fonseca,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Due to Holy Week, people in Venezuela are not working, and many places are closed, according to Perez.—
Lauren Costantino,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Let go of the people, places and things from the past that have held you back.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Texas dominated many national rankings in the report as well, with the ZIP code encompassing the Dallas suburb of Crandall ranking second on the list and a more urban Dallas ZIP code ranking 10th.—
Faith Bugenhagen,
Austin American Statesman,
28 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rungs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rungs. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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