1
as in expert
a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field
took a few lessons with a tennis ace to improve his backhand
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shred
a very small amount
not an ace of truth in what she said
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in inch
a very small distance or degree
came within an ace of being chosen for the part
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in skilled
having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor
an ace computer programmer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to effect
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of ace
Will Sammon, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
With just under 10 laps to go, Corey LaJoie (RFK’s Open car entry) was running right behind Brad Keselowski, who was passing cars and controlling the lines like the superspeedway ace could.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
Pete Hammond, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2025
Esmeralda is incompetent, egotistic, and, thanks to Impacciatore’s ace comedic timing, totally fabulous.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2025
Lisa Jhung, Outside, 11 Feb. 2026
Starship still needs to ace an orbital mission, for example, and show that it can be refueled off Earth.
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ace
Noun
After lowering his arm slot and emulating Chris Sale in the second half of 2024, Manaea performed like an ace.
—Will Sammon, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
With just under 10 laps to go, Corey LaJoie (RFK’s Open car entry) was running right behind Brad Keselowski, who was passing cars and controlling the lines like the superspeedway ace could.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Benjamin Loeb did the superb cinematography, and the score by ace Japanese composer Joe Hisaishi tries valiantly to catch the mood.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2025
Esmeralda is incompetent, egotistic, and, thanks to Impacciatore’s ace comedic timing, totally fabulous.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
On the East Coast, my friend and ace apparel tester Kristie has been braving the cold of a New Hampshire winter for her runs.
—Lisa Jhung, Outside, 11 Feb. 2026
Starship still needs to ace an orbital mission, for example, and show that it can be refueled off Earth.
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ace
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ace
Noun
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The repeal eliminates all greenhouse gas emissions standards for cars and trucks and could unleash a broader undoing of climate regulations on stationary sources such as power plants and oil and gas facilities, experts say.—
MATTHEW DALY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
19 Feb. 2026
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Lanier argued the filters could harm teens’ perceptions of themselves, saying experts consulted by Meta reached that same conclusion.—
Clare Duffy,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Here’s a guy who dominates on the field every Sunday talking openly about love, poetry and the person who inspires him most, without a shred of self-consciousness.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
20 Feb. 2026
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But the detective on his tail (Motsi Tekateka) never confronts him with a shred of evidence.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
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New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.—
Ryan Murphy,
IndyStar,
19 Feb. 2026
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All other bags must be clear and no larger than 12-by-12-by-6 inches.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The judge said competent attorneys need to adhere to court evidence rules and be skilled tacticians.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Iowa’s 15 community colleges could offer bachelor’s degrees in high-demand workforce areas, such as health care, advanced manufacturing and skilled trades.—
Stephen Gruber-Miller,
Des Moines Register,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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They were carved with patriotic love by a Texas sculptor who studied in Paris under a French modern master and envisioned as the polished centerpieces of a $10 million park, but now sit in a Virginia field as an offbeat, reservations-only, roadside tourist draw.—
Danielle Paquette The Washington Post,
Arkansas Online,
17 Feb. 2026
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Rick likens his son’s interactions with the media to those of Bill Belichick, the legendary football coach and master of the monosyllabic press conference.—
Tom Kludt,
Vanity Fair,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Among the amenities at this all-inclusive resort are 13 pools, including a splash pool for kids; a kids club and teen space; daily activities at the main pool; and nightly entertainment.—
Beth Luberecki,
USA Today,
21 Feb. 2026
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Reheat the pasta gently and stir in a splash of pasta water at a time until the sauce loosens and regains its creamy texture.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The first step requires Ilana to change into a robe, undressing on top of pads placed on the floor so each item of clothing can be packaged into separate bags and collected as evidence.—
Senior Television,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
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Despite a step-out and a fall on his first two quads, Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama skated the rest of his free program more cleanly and earned his second Olympic silver.—
Alice Fang,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Takeaway With Generation Alpha, expect to see a new group of people who are more accepting of differences, more socially adept, tech-savvy, and perhaps more cognizant of complex issues like climate change.—
Sarah Cottrell,
Parents,
20 Feb. 2026
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Benge isn’t particularly speedy, but fast enough to play center field, and adept enough in his routes and tracking to play center as well.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ace.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ace. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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