excellence

noun

ˈek-s(ə-)lən(t)s How to pronounce excellence (audio)
Definition of excellencenext
1
as in excellency
exceptionally high quality the annual awards honor excellence in children's literature

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in distinction
a quality that gives something special worth the particular excellence of down in clothing and sleeping bags is its lightness

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 excellence With his pipe in his mouth, Chang devoted himself to operational excellence. — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026 Both are built on a foundation of craftsmanship, precision and an unwavering pursuit of excellence. — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026 The Panthers ultimately emerged from Lincoln Financial Field with a 25-14 win over the Eagles — thanks to Tyus’ brilliance, an impressive season debut from right tackle Taylor Moton and excellence elsewhere across the roster. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 18 Oct. 2026 The Valkyries had to overcome adversity, too, seeking to escape the shadow of the Las Vegas Aces, the league’s defending champions and a paragon of excellence. — Ken Makin, Christian Science Monitor, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for excellence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excellence
  1. excellency
  2. distinction
  3. superiority
  4. value
  5. perfection
  6. advantage
  7. virtue
  8. merit
Noun
  • Education was considered an individual pursuit marked by moral excellency and only the students who did the best in school would have proceeded to higher education.
    — Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 12 Nov. 2024
  • Paradise Dynasty, Kang Kang, Long Xing Ji, Hui Tou Xiang, Min Min Pie House (and so many more) should all be household names worthy of recognition for their myriad styles and excellency.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2024
Definition of excellency
Noun
  • That distinction shows both the opportunity for American technology and the limits imposed by remaining dependencies.
    — Margot Edelman, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The city institution, which artistic director Robert Drake describes as Georgia's longest-running theater, also holds the distinction of being the first professional theater to integrate both its casts and audience in the southeastern United States.
    — La'Tasha Givens, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of distinction
Noun
  • Tampa Bay used clear superiority in its starting rotation, bullpen and late-series offense to eliminate Cleveland.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Oct. 2026
  • If military superiority alone could end wars, then Afghanistan and Iraq would have been relatively easy American wins.
    — Anna Mulrine Grobe, Christian Science Monitor, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of superiority
Noun
  • The federal government was preparing to change its rules on low-value imports, threatening her ability to purchase cheaper prescription medications for blood thinning and heart failure from Canada.
    — Andrew R. Chow, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
  • That’s 35% of the value of the S&P 500 and the highest concentration in a handful of stocks since just before the crash of 1929.
    — Ming Lu, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of value
Noun
  • Having lost one daughter, Chrissy sought perfection in her remaining child, ignoring the risks of the modification procedure that have resulted in sickly Josie slowly succumbing to a chronic illness.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Counted in that giddy stretch of unexpected euphoria was actual perfection, a run from August through January without defeat, capped off with, of all ridiculous things, a national championship.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of perfection
Noun
  • Ohio polling raises questions Advertisement As polling consistently shows an advantage for Acton, Republicans are increasingly arguing that the polls may be wrong by just enough to give Ramaswamy the win.
    — Philip Elliott, Time, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Firms that know exactly where the line sits hold quiet advantages their competitors cannot purchase or replicate.
    — Matt Alt, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of advantage
Noun
  • The virtue-signaling from the insufferable COVID summer of 2020 turned a lot of people off, rightfully so.
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The nod to purity emphasized the paint brand’s relationship to cleanliness and virtue, and possibly other notions of bigotry.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of virtue
Noun
  • Even if the business can prove that the claims being made against it are without merit, legal defense fees can still become costly.
    — Kaitlyn Gomez, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026
  • After an extensive review, which included training on state law, reading the book and discussing its merits, the committee decided unanimously to keep the book in Harford County high schools.
    — Tara Lynch, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of merit

Phrases Containing excellence

Browse Nearby Words

excelled
excellence
excellences
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Excellence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excellence. Accessed 25 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of emissary

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 23

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All