Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

right-hand

ADJECTIVE
essential
Synonyms
STRONGEST
crucial fundamental imperative important indispensable main necessary needed vital
STRONG
capital cardinal chief leading prerequisite principal requisite
WEAK
constitutive foremost must-have necessitous needful required wanted
Antonyms
STRONGEST
auxiliary extra inessential minor needless nonessential optional secondary subordinate trivial unimportant unnecessary voluntary
STRONG
inferior
WEAK
accessory atypical subsidiary
ADJECTIVE
needful
Synonyms
WEAK
capital cardinal chief constitutive crucial foremost fundamental imperative indispensable leading main necessary necessitous needed prerequisite principal required requisite wanted
NOUN
right-hand man
Synonyms
WEAK
alter ego fidus Achates gal Friday man Friday right hand right-hand woman second self strong right arm

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

She stepped down as attorney general, but amassed even greater influence as Maduro’s right hand, able to direct policy and distribute favors without restriction.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

“His power comes from the fact that he’s been sitting right there at the right hand of his father for decades,” says Graeme Wood, a staff writer at the Atlantic.

From Slate • Mar. 11, 2026

The rear or 'trailing' hand is the right hand, positioned close to the tail of the board.

From BBC • Feb. 16, 2026

The AI-enhanced image also led some social media users to falsely claim the object in Pretti's right hand was a weapon, but analysis of the verified footage showed he was holding a phone.

From Barron's • Jan. 30, 2026

I was squeezing the seed so hard that my right hand was going numb.

From "The Science of Breakable Things" by Tae Keller

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.