inferior
adjective
in·fe·ri·or
in-ˈfir-ē-ər 
Examples of inferior in a Sentence
… the pearls were of inferior quality; they looked like pearlized globs of varying wrinkly shapes.
—
Tracie Rozhon, New York Times, 24 Aug. 2002
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
No longer do workers and peasants feel inferior to the university-trained.
—Rhea Menzel Whitehead, Saturday Review, 4 Mar. 1972
These pearls are of inferior quality.
They were considered a socially inferior group.
He always felt inferior around his brother.
The judges voted to overturn a ruling made by an inferior court.
Tracie Rozhon, New York Times, 24 Aug. 2002
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
No longer do workers and peasants feel inferior to the university-trained.
—Rhea Menzel Whitehead, Saturday Review, 4 Mar. 1972
These pearls are of inferior quality.
They were considered a socially inferior group.
He always felt inferior around his brother.
The judges voted to overturn a ruling made by an inferior court.
Recent Examples on the Web
In this now-infamous opinion, Taney declared that Black Americans were inferior and had no rights under the US Constitution.
—Kathleen Toner, CNN Money, 1 Aug. 2025
The creation of a tunnel that could bypass the most congested areas on the way to BNA would make the conventional route comparatively inferior.
—Charles Singh, The Tennessean, 29 July 2025
This new no-bid contract would cost $2.1 million more, with inferior results, sanitation director Matt Torri told the city council on Monday.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 25 July 2025
In the novel, Harriet Smith, Emma’s socially inferior friend, is frightened and harassed by a band of beggar children.
—Tom Gliatto, People.com, 19 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for inferior
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Kathleen Toner, CNN Money, 1 Aug. 2025
The creation of a tunnel that could bypass the most congested areas on the way to BNA would make the conventional route comparatively inferior.
—Charles Singh, The Tennessean, 29 July 2025
This new no-bid contract would cost $2.1 million more, with inferior results, sanitation director Matt Torri told the city council on Monday.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 25 July 2025
In the novel, Harriet Smith, Emma’s socially inferior friend, is frightened and harassed by a band of beggar children.
—Tom Gliatto, People.com, 19 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for inferior
Cite this Entry
“Inferior.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inferior. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
inferior
adjective
in·fe·ri·or
in-ˈfir-ē-ər
1
: situated below and closer to the feet than another and especially another similar part of an upright body especially of a human being compare superior sense 1
2
: situated in a more posterior or ventral position in the body of a quadruped compare superior sense 2
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