menial

[mee-nee-uhl, meen-yuhl]

adjective

1. lowly and sometimes degrading.

   menial work.

   Antonyms: dignified

2. servile; submissive.

   menial attitudes.

   Synonyms: fawning
   Antonyms: proud

3. pertaining to or suitable for domestic servants; humble.

   menial furnishings.

noun

1. a domestic servant.

   Synonyms: lackey, hireling, underling, attendant

2. a servile person.

menial

/ ˈmiːnɪəl /

adjective

1. consisting of or occupied with work requiring little skill, esp domestic duties such as cleaning

2. of, involving, or befitting servants

3. servile

noun

1. a domestic servant

2. a servile person

Other Word Forms

• menially adverb
• nonmenial adjective
• nonmenially adverb
• unmenial adjective
• unmenially adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of menial¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English meynyal, from Anglo-French me(i)nial; meiny, -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of menial¹

C14: from Anglo-Norman meignial, from Old French meinie household. See _meiny

Synonym Study

See servile.

Example Sentences

The disability, verified by AFP, meant he was repeatedly sold on to other compounds and given menial tasks.

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It can already do menial tasks as well as many human beings.

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Executives say the technology allows them to grow the number of customer-facing roles while reducing more menial operating roles.

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They use their college degrees to help their husbands dispense with menial tasks so he can focus on the more exciting — and visible — parts of his job.

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The lawsuit says he was required to perform “menial tasks,” including fetching cigars for the rapper.

Read more on Los Angeles Times