as in subordinate
one who is of lower rank and typically under the authority of another
she is nice to her inferiors as well as to her superiors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in lower
situated lower down
creatures that inhabit the dark, inferior depths of the ocean
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in minor
of little or less value or merit
a girl who has always felt inferior to her older sister
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in low
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard
an inferior science textbook that was out-of-date the day that it was published
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in lesser
having not so great importance or rank as another
an inferior officer cannot strike a superior under any circumstances
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6
as in poor
of low quality
inferior chocolate candy that no serious chocolate lover would think of eating
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inferior
Marianne Pizzitola, New York Daily News, 14 July 2025
The bolder value vision is in using new AI capabilities to solve long-standing inefficiencies or problems that may have been targeted before, albeit with inferior technology.
—Beena Ammanath, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
These people could have competed in XY sports competitions before Title IX, but no team would have them because of their inferior strength compared to the average XY person.
—Naperville Sun, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2025
Early on, Pitt’s Sonny Hayes makes intentional contact with other cars and the barriers to purposely bring out the safety car to help teammate Joshua Pearce, played by Damson Idris, get the inferior APXGP car closer to the pack on restarts.
—Maury Brown, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for inferior
Adjective
Instead of allowing senior citizens and disabled first-responders choose the plan that was right for them — and the vast majority have chosen traditional Medicare — de Blasio forced every one of them into an inferior Medicare Advantage plan run by a for-profit insurance company.
—Marianne Pizzitola, New York Daily News, 14 July 2025
The bolder value vision is in using new AI capabilities to solve long-standing inefficiencies or problems that may have been targeted before, albeit with inferior technology.
—Beena Ammanath, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
These people could have competed in XY sports competitions before Title IX, but no team would have them because of their inferior strength compared to the average XY person.
—Naperville Sun, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2025
Early on, Pitt’s Sonny Hayes makes intentional contact with other cars and the barriers to purposely bring out the safety car to help teammate Joshua Pearce, played by Damson Idris, get the inferior APXGP car closer to the pack on restarts.
—Maury Brown, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for inferior
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inferior
Noun
-
Former Pflugerville Police Chief Jason O’Malley pointed a gun at a subordinate inside a police building this year, according to a third-party investigation that spurred O'Malley and two commanders to exit the force.—
Dante Motley,
Austin American Statesman,
31 July 2025
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Why this is happening is clear from a radio intercept about a similar incident, shared with CNN, in which a Russian commander can clearly be heard ordering a subordinate be tied up in this way as punishment for desertion.—
Andrew Carey,
CNN Money,
28 July 2025
Adjective
-
And ultimately, the Supreme Court overruled those lower court rulings and did declare the embryos as children qualifying under the wrongful death statute.—
Dana Taylor,
USA TODAY,
1 Mar. 2024
-
Lower gas demand amid increasing supply has led to lower pump prices.—
Frank Witsil,
Detroit Free Press,
19 June 2023
Adjective
-
While two people are said to have been seriously injured, the others are being treated for minor injuries, according to Xinhua.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
People.com,
7 Aug. 2025
-
In April, the government quietly revoked the visas of thousands of students who had allegedly committed minor legal infractions before abruptly reversing the policy.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The company attributed that to a decrease in full-price wholesale and lower e-commerce sales.—
Jean E. Palmieri,
Footwear News,
8 Aug. 2025
-
The sheriff’s office said it was tipped off that Hendon was selling new appliances via social media for unusually low prices.—
Clifford Ward,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
While Led Zeppelin would have benefited greatly from Reid’s singing, songwriting and distinctive guitar work, being in that barnstorming band would have placed unacceptable artistic restraints on him.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Aug. 2025
-
The unexpected adverse media campaign that was launched by those who resigned on 24 March 2025 has caused incalculable damage and offers a glimpse of the unacceptable behaviors displayed in private.—
Simon Perry,
People.com,
5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Toronto’s Fred VanVleet appears to be the top target, but Miami’s Kyle Lowry, Utah’s Mike Conley and, perhaps to a lesser extent, Charlotte’s Terry Rozier have been linked to the team at various points.—
Staff Writer
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2023
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The story of 2022 (and 2021 to a lesser extent) was energy.—
Nicole Goodkind,
CNN,
31 Jan. 2023
Adjective
-
This implies a poor Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 52.5% (vs. 19.4% for S&P 500).—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
-
The general manager, making a rare road trip, told reporters that his presence had more to do with his scheduling availability than the Yankees’ third-place standing or their poor play over the past two-plus months.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
There aren’t many actors, after all, who can convincingly play both sad-sack real estate salesman Shelly Levene in a Broadway production of Glengarry Glen Ross and a lean, mean killing machine.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Aug. 2025
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The researchers recruited 68 adults, with a mean age of 64, who had confirmed medial knee OA.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
12 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inferior.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inferior. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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