ˈhī-(ə-)ˌrär-kē
as in ladder
a scheme of rank or order
honesty sits at the top of my hierarchy of values
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 hierarchy
The relationship between Leicester City — its players out on the pitch, the club’s hierarchy up in the boardroom, and its supporters in the stands — has fractured.
—
Rob Tanner, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025
The history of school suspensions teaches us that the practice began as a way to preserve educational opportunities for white students and maintain a racial hierarchy in education.
—Aaron Kupchik, TIME, 21 Feb. 2025
Setting this story in an MFA program risks veering into the territory of inside baseball, and for those outside the theater community, the characters’ debates about casting processes and established hierarchies in the arts might seem a bit in the weeds.
—Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 21 Feb. 2025
Within the faith there’s no real hierarchy; there are no popes, priests or clergy.
—Peter Kiefer, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hierarchy
Rob Tanner, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025
The history of school suspensions teaches us that the practice began as a way to preserve educational opportunities for white students and maintain a racial hierarchy in education.
—Aaron Kupchik, TIME, 21 Feb. 2025
Setting this story in an MFA program risks veering into the territory of inside baseball, and for those outside the theater community, the characters’ debates about casting processes and established hierarchies in the arts might seem a bit in the weeds.
—Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 21 Feb. 2025
Within the faith there’s no real hierarchy; there are no popes, priests or clergy.
—Peter Kiefer, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hierarchy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hierarchy
Noun
-
While elite schools and second-tier colleges may thrive, those further down the selectivity ladder face an existential crisis.—
Scott White,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
-
At greasing time, each of us competitors climbed a ladder held stable by a 610 Stomper and a Merry Antoinette.—
Chelsea Brasted,
Axios,
3 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
By Emma Whitford and Matt Schifrin, Forbes Staff Forbes College Financial Grades are designed to assess a private not-for-profit college’s operational soundness and balance sheet health using the following nine measures (Click here for the full ranking).—
Emma Whitford,
Forbes,
7 Mar. 2025
-
Here's our ranking of the current Apple TV+ Sci-Fi category, running from worst to best.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
6 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
This significant sum is still nowhere near the scale of the cuts Republicans apparently want to make.—
Nicole Huberfeld,
The Conversation,
3 Mar. 2025
-
Amazon’s fulfillment centers exemplify this transformation at scale, with over 750,000 mobile robots worldwide navigating complex environments to retrieve items.—
Janakiram MSV,
Forbes,
3 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hierarchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hierarchy. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share