as in extra
being over what is needed
a third, supernumerary witness to the signing of the will
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in walk-on
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Dissimilar Words
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Recent Examples of supernumerary
David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025
That’s quite a bit of digitalization for a car that proudly clings to such a traditionalist trope as a supernumerary cylinder count; even Ferrari’s new range-topping, $3.9 million F80 hybrid sports only six cylinders.
—Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 25 Feb. 2025
Victoria Petrovich’s set was minimal but useful, but some of Rosie Glen-Lambert’s direction struck me as wrong-headed, nowhere more so than in a supernumerary robot’s contemplation of male reproductive parts.
—Christian Hertzog, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 June 2024
The supernumerary robotic leg is more autonomous, able to assist with several different human gaits at a brisk walk and add as much as 84 watts of power.
—Evan Ackerman, IEEE Spectrum, 28 Dec. 2020
Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 30 Mar. 2023
One of West Hartford’s earlier patrol officers, Martin McCue, started as a part-time supernumerary in 1929 and became a full-time officer a year later.
—Don Stacom, courant.com, 12 Nov. 2020
As reported by ITV News, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and King Felipe VI of Spain are being invested as supernumerary, or Stranger Knights of the Garter by Queen Elizabeth in this year's ceremony.
—Amy MacKelden, Harper's BAZAAR, 17 June 2019
Aside from work and travel, Mrs. Gradet was an extra — or supernumerary — in several productions of the Baltimore Opera, along with her husband and children.
—Christina Tkacik, baltimoresun.com, 20 May 2018
Broken into six-hour installments spaced out over two weeks, the hallucinatory concert extravaganza is being custom tailored, with local musicians, guest artists and glittery supernumeraries brought in for the occasion.
—Charles McNulty, latimes.com, 14 Mar. 2018
History will be merciless to them, but how much fun to watch them reduced to thunderstruck supernumeraries in real time.
—Frank Rich, Daily Intelligencer, 13 Sep. 2017
Adjective
This is not the pruning of a smattering of supernumerary employees, these are entire branches of the CDC felled.
—David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025
That’s quite a bit of digitalization for a car that proudly clings to such a traditionalist trope as a supernumerary cylinder count; even Ferrari’s new range-topping, $3.9 million F80 hybrid sports only six cylinders.
—Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 25 Feb. 2025
Victoria Petrovich’s set was minimal but useful, but some of Rosie Glen-Lambert’s direction struck me as wrong-headed, nowhere more so than in a supernumerary robot’s contemplation of male reproductive parts.
—Christian Hertzog, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 June 2024
The supernumerary robotic leg is more autonomous, able to assist with several different human gaits at a brisk walk and add as much as 84 watts of power.
—Evan Ackerman, IEEE Spectrum, 28 Dec. 2020
Noun
Scenes are often crowded with supernumeraries.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 30 Mar. 2023
One of West Hartford’s earlier patrol officers, Martin McCue, started as a part-time supernumerary in 1929 and became a full-time officer a year later.
—Don Stacom, courant.com, 12 Nov. 2020
As reported by ITV News, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and King Felipe VI of Spain are being invested as supernumerary, or Stranger Knights of the Garter by Queen Elizabeth in this year's ceremony.
—Amy MacKelden, Harper's BAZAAR, 17 June 2019
Aside from work and travel, Mrs. Gradet was an extra — or supernumerary — in several productions of the Baltimore Opera, along with her husband and children.
—Christina Tkacik, baltimoresun.com, 20 May 2018
Broken into six-hour installments spaced out over two weeks, the hallucinatory concert extravaganza is being custom tailored, with local musicians, guest artists and glittery supernumeraries brought in for the occasion.
—Charles McNulty, latimes.com, 14 Mar. 2018
History will be merciless to them, but how much fun to watch them reduced to thunderstruck supernumeraries in real time.
—Frank Rich, Daily Intelligencer, 13 Sep. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for supernumerary
Adjective
-
The spa Indoor and outdoor pools here provide extra options for entertainment, and the patio’s sunbeds see a lot of attention, especially on weekends when rates often drop here.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 May 2026
-
Do not bury the point under extra polish.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
Smith enrolled at North Carolina A&T, a historically Black college in Greensboro, in 2021 and also joined the golf team as a walk-on.—
Jason Jones,
New York Times,
10 May 2026
-
Will Thengvall is grandfathered in as a walk-on.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
As a result, today’s surplus landscape is less China-centered than in the early-2000s.—
James Broughel,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
-
This is your sign to put your plan in motion with help from Wayfair’s surplus sale.—
Christina Shepherd McGuire,
PEOPLE,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
Simpson emerged as a spear-carrier for Social Security benefit cuts in 2010, when he was appointed the GOP co-chair of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, established by Barack Obama as a sop to conservative deficit hawks.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Save excess poaching liquid in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.—
Rebecca Firkser,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 May 2026
-
Over time, excess soap can damage the machine itself.—
Ryan Brennan
May 14,
Miami Herald,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
Bring a flashlight with spare batteries to hike during the cool evening.—
Hali Smith,
Idaho Statesman,
13 May 2026
-
Other things flying up include flexible repair patches for sealing the space station’s hull, a replacement ultrasonic inspection tool, spare units for the station’s vibration monitoring system and parts to improve water processing and oxygen generation.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
Both Reed and costar Raquel Welch were pilloried for their performance as the same character before and after what would now be called gender-affirming surgery.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
12 May 2026
-
Hopefully, The Rockford Files reboot lead David Boreanaz is warning his new costar, Michaela McManus, to start carb-loading.—
Breanne L. Heldman,
PEOPLE,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
Sheets, who started the scoring with a solo home run in the first inning and gave the Padres a 4-0 lead with a two-run homer in the sixth, hit an RBI double in the seventh that put the Padres up by five.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 May 2026
-
That’s just a bit more than half the playing area of a doubles tennis court.—
Julie Z. Weil,
Washington Post,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Supernumerary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/supernumerary. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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