The thermometer registered minus ten last night.
Source: tatoeba (244774)
Minus
/ˈmaɪ.nəs/
Synonyms for "minus" (85 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (17)
Strong matches (26)
Noun(8 words)
deficitdisadvantagedownsidedownwardlyflawindividuals without powerlack of grammar knowledgeloss of backing
denudeddeprived ofdevoiddiscountingdivestedexceptexceptingexception taken ofexcludingexclusive ofexistlessfrominadequateinferiorinsufficientlackingleaving outless
Related words (42)
minuendmissingnegativenonexistentnot countingnulloffout ofparted frompluspositiverobbed ofsanssaveshornshorn ofshortshort ofstrippedstripped of
Show 8 more words
Noun(10 words)
minus signminus symbolnegnegative signnegativelyrequire parental consentsubtractionsubtraction signsubtraction symbolsubtractively
Adjective(1 words)
Adjective(2 words)
negativenegative number
Adverb(1 words)
not based on evidence
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: drawback, shortcoming, absence of extra costs, absence of tracking, barring.
- Sentence evidence is available for minus, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wiktionary, opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "minus".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "minus"
Keep "minus" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "minus" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "minus", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "minus" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
7 entriesarithmetic operationarithmetic operatormathematical operationmeasurement valuenegative aspectnumeric signsymbol
More specific
11 entriesbinary subtractiondefectdeficitflawlimitationnegative numbernegative valueshortfallsubtractionsubtrahendunary minus
Collocations
13 entriesbinary minusmathematical differenceminus five degreesminus five percentminus signminus taxminus ten dollarsminus three degreesminus twonegative quantitynegative valuenumerical deficitsubtraction operation
Inflections
1 entriesAntonyms
1 entriessimilar
4 entriesSample sentences
24 total sentences available.
How many is nine minus six?
Source: tatoeba (519105)
Ten minus two is eight.
Source: tatoeba (1304581)
The temperature went down to minus ten degrees centigrade last night.
Source: tatoeba (2655082)
Showing 4 of 24 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "minus"?
Closest matches include drawback, shortcoming, absence of extra costs, absence of tracking, barring.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "minus"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.