ster·ling | \ ˈstər-liŋ 
\
\Definition of sterling
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : British money
2 : sterling silver or articles of it
sterling
adjectiveDefinition of sterling (Entry 2 of 2)
1a : of, relating to, or calculated in terms of British sterling
b : payable in sterling
2a of silver : having a fixed standard of purity usually defined legally as represented by an alloy of 925 parts of silver with 75 parts of copper
b : made of sterling silver
3 : conforming to the highest standard
sterling character a sterling record of achievement
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Synonyms & Antonyms for sterling
Synonyms: Adjective
- A-OK,
- A1,
- awesome,
- bang-up,
- banner,
- beautiful,
- blue-chip,
- blue-ribbon,
- boffo,
- bonny
- (also bonnie)
- [chiefly British],
- boss
- [slang],
- brag,
- brave,
- bully,
- bumper,
- capital,
- choice,
- classic,
- cool
- [slang],
- corking,
- crackerjack,
- cracking,
- dandy,
- divine,
- dope
- [slang],
- down
- [slang],
- dynamite,
- excellent,
- fab,
- fabulous,
- famous,
- fantabulous
- [slang],
- fantastic,
- fine,
- first-class,
- first-rate,
- first-string,
- five-star,
- four-star,
- frontline,
- gangbusters
- (also gangbuster),
- gilt-edged
- (or gilt-edge),
- gone
- [slang],
- grand,
- great,
- groovy,
- heavenly,
- high-class,
- hot,
- hype
- [slang],
- immense,
- jim-dandy,
- keen,
- lovely,
- marvelous
- (or marvellous),
- mean,
- neat,
- nifty,
- noble,
- number one
- (also No. 1),
- numero uno,
- out-of-sight
- [slang],
- par excellence,
- peachy,
- peachy keen,
- phat
- [slang],
- prime,
- primo
- [slang],
- prize,
- prizewinning,
- quality,
- radical
- [slang],
- righteous
- [slang],
- sensational,
- slick,
- splendid,
- stellar,
- superb,
- superior,
- superlative,
- supernal,
- swell,
- terrific,
- tip-top,
- top,
- top-notch,
- top-of-the-line,
- top-shelf,
- topflight,
- topping
- [chiefly British],
- unsurpassed,
- wizard
- [chiefly British],
- wonderful
Antonyms: Adjective
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Examples of sterling in a Sentence
Noun
a drop in the value of sterling Adjective
a sterling example of democracy at work
credited the win to the pitcher's sterling performance on the mound
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Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The sterling paintings are being sold, apparently for tax purposes, by Baron Eric de Rothschild in Paris.
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Los Angeles Times, "Review: How does it feel to own a Rembrandt? Or 15 of them? Inside the collectors’ quest," 6 Jan. 2021 Rendered in intricate cutouts, the constellations come carved in either sterling silver or bronze with gold cover.
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Naveen Kumar, CNN Underscored, "19 gifts for the astrology-obsessed person in your life," 10 Dec. 2020 Chances are high that the talks will end in failure, and sterling is slipping accordingly.
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David Meyer, Fortune, "How the business world has changed in the last few decades," 7 Dec. 2020 Save 30% on most items, and get 25% off on fine jewelry and sterling silver collections now through November 30.
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Cnn Underscored Staff, CNN Underscored, "400+ Cyber Monday sales you can shop right now," 30 Nov. 2020 The shop, which sells furniture, household items, jewelry, sterling silver items and home accessories, will officially close Feb. 21.
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Taylor Deville, baltimoresun.com, "Cockeysville’s Clearing House furniture consignment store that raised funds for House of Ruth closing after 40 years," 22 Dec. 2020 The moves mark a turnaround after sterling rose last week to its highest in nearly five months, on a weaker dollar and speculation that a deal might be reached on Sunday, a deadline set by the European Parliament.
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William Shaw, Bloomberg.com, "Pound Plummets as Virus Threatens U.K. Supply Chains With EU," 20 Dec. 2020 The store not only sells clothing, but also handmade jewelry such as bracelets and necklaces in 14-karat gold and sterling silver with natural gemstones and black diamonds.
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Tyler Carter, Dallas News, "Black-owned apparel store in DeSoto draws on Christian man’s faith after first business ‘broke my spirits’," 16 Dec. 2020 British businesses and the public won something of a reprieve this weekend after the latest Brexit make-or-break deadline passed with—lucky us—an extension, sending the pound sterling higher; the FTSE is flat.
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Bernhard Warner, Fortune, "COVID vaccines are coming—but it might be too late for the housing market," 14 Dec. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Birx came to the White House coronavirus task force with a sterling reputation.
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Aamer Madhani And Brian Slodysko, chicagotribune.com, "Dr. Deborah Birx faces criticism after warning Americans to limit holiday travel, then gathering with family at her vacation home," 20 Dec. 2020 But its record in natural forests is less sterling.
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Gabriel Popkin, Science | AAAS, "Can an ambitious breeding effort save North America’s ash trees?," 12 Nov. 2020 Longhorns followed their sterling 13-0 season of 2005 with a solid 10-3 finish in 2006 but closed out the regular season with narrow losses to Kansas State and A&M.
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Brent Zwerneman, ExpressNews.com, "Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher knows LSU’s struggle," 26 Nov. 2020 At the time, Puliafito had a sterling reputation in ophthalmology and lived in a $5-million mansion with his wife of 38 years.
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Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, "An infant dies, a millionaire doctor calls 911, and a tale emerges of drugs, love and suspected crime," 2 Dec. 2020 Add a playful Tiffany touch to pool night with this sterling silver holder with Tiffany Blue chalk.
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Harper's Magazine, "Gilded by Reason of Insanity," 24 Nov. 2020 Sternlicht acquired a monumental Andreas Gursky photograph recently at Art Basel and borrowed a sterling collection of African art from his other residences in Nantucket and New York City.
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Whitney Robinson, ELLE Decor, "A Hotel Mogul Creates His Own Personal Sanctuary in Miami Beach," 19 Nov. 2020 Between the two seats is an optional champagne cooler with sterling silver champagne flutes.
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John Pearley Huffman, Car and Driver, "2021 Mercedes-Maybach S580 Luxury Liner Has It All, and Then Some," 19 Nov. 2020 Dallas also chose to keep DE Aldon Smith and all three of its sterling wide receivers.
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Nate Davis, USA TODAY, "NFL trade deadline winners, losers: Which players, teams are better off?," 3 Nov. 2020
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sterling.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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Learn More about sterling
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Last Updated
18 Jan 2021
Look-up Popularity
Cite this Entry
“Sterling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sterling. Accessed 19 Jan. 2021.
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More Definitions for sterling
sterling
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of sterling
(Entry 1 of 2)
: silver that is 92 percent pure
: British money
sterling
adjectiveEnglish Language Learners Definition of sterling (Entry 2 of 2)
: made of silver that is 92 percent pure
: very good
See the full definition for sterling in the English Language Learners Dictionary
sterling
nounster·ling | \ ˈstər-liŋ \
\Kids Definition of sterling
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : British money
2 : sterling silver : articles made from sterling silver
sterling
adjectiveKids Definition of sterling (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : of or relating to British sterling
2 : being or made of a specific alloy that is mostly silver with a little copper
sterling silver
3 : excellent a sterling example
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Comments on sterling
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Time Traveler for sterling
The first known use of sterling was in the 14th century
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