Entry Word: inferior

Function: adjective

Meaning: 1 situated lower down <creatures that inhabit the dark, inferior depths of the ocean>

Synonyms lower, nether

Related Words lowest, nethermost; underlying

Near Antonyms highest, uppermost; overhanging, overhead

Antonyms higher, superior, upper

2 of little or less value or merit <a girl who has always felt inferior to her older sister>

Synonyms mean, minor, secondary, second-class, second-rate

Related Words junior, lesser, lower, petty, smaller, subordinate, under; average, common, fair, middling, ordinary; amiss, bad, defective, unsatisfactory, wrong; deficient, inadequate, insufficient, unacceptable; littler, slighter, smaller; jerkwater, one-horse, two-bit

Near Antonyms major, more, primary, senior; choice, exceptional, first-class, first-rate, high-grade, premium, prime; acceptable, adequate, sufficient

Antonyms greater, higher, superior

3 belonging to the class of people of low social or economic rank <at one time, the upper crust liked to believe that inferior people were fit only to be servants> — see ignoble 1
4 falling short of a standard <an inferior science textbook that was out-of-date the day that it was published> — see bad 1
5 having not so great importance or rank as another <an inferior officer cannot strike a superior under any circumstances> — see lesser
6 of low quality <inferior chocolate candy that no serious chocolate lover would think of eating> — see cheap 2