inferior

in·fe·ri·or

adj \in-ˈfir-ē-ər\

Definition of INFERIOR

1

: situated lower down : lower

2

a : of low or lower degree or rank b : of poor quality : mediocre

3

: of little or less importance, value, or merit <always felt inferior to his older brother>

4

a : situated below another and especially another similar superior part of an upright body b : situated in a relatively low posterior or ventral position in a quadrupedal body c (1) : situated below another plant part or organ (2) : abaxial

5

: relating to or being a subscript

— inferior noun

— in·fe·ri·or·i·ty \(ˌ)in-ˌfir-ē-ˈȯr-ə-tē, -ˈär-\ noun

— in·fe·ri·or·ly \in-ˈfir-ē-ər-lē\ adverb

Examples of INFERIOR

1. These pearls are of inferior quality.
2. They were considered a socially inferior group.
3. He always felt inferior around his brother.
4. The judges voted to overturn a ruling made by an inferior court.
5. … the pearls were of inferior quality; they looked like pearlized globs of varying wrinkly shapes. —Tracie Rozhon, New York Times, 24 Aug. 2002
6. Sharks, rays, and ratfishes share a special burden: these cartilaginous fishes are saddled with a reputation for being somehow inferior to vertebrates blessed with bony skeletons. —Carl Zimmer, Natural History, September 2000
7. No longer do workers and peasants feel inferior to the university-trained. —Rhea Menzel Whitehead, Saturday Review, 4 Mar. 1972

Origin of INFERIOR

Middle English, from Latin, comparative of inferus lower — more at under

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to INFERIOR

Synonyms: lower, nether

Antonyms: higher, superior, upper

Related Words: lowest, nethermost; underlying

Near Antonyms: highest, uppermost; overhanging, overhead

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with INFERIOR

anterior, exterior, interior, posterior, superior, ulterior