1
as in attire
dressy clothing
the family wore their best to the wedding
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in elite
individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class
only the best will go on to the finals
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to worst
to achieve a victory over
at last she's bested her card-playing mother at the game of hearts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of best
Shafiq Najib, ABC News, 15 Mar. 2026
The jovial actor can hardly nab a bite of the restaurant’s famous cheesy garlic bread without someone asking for a selfie or sharing well wishes for the movie, which is vying for a record-breaking 16 awards at the March 15 ceremony, including best picture.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 14 Mar. 2026
ABC News, 13 Mar. 2026
Continue reading … AMERICAN CULTURE QUIZ — Test yourself on baseball bests and nutty nibbles.
—FOXNews.com, 10 Mar. 2026
Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 3 Apr. 2026
If all goes as planned, Artemis II will best the record set by Apollo 13 in 1970 by 3,366 miles (about 5,400 kilometers), reaching 252,021 miles (about 405,000 kilometers) from Earth.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for best
Adjective
See who won best picture, which films took home the most Oscars and more.
—Shafiq Najib, ABC News, 15 Mar. 2026
The jovial actor can hardly nab a bite of the restaurant’s famous cheesy garlic bread without someone asking for a selfie or sharing well wishes for the movie, which is vying for a record-breaking 16 awards at the March 15 ceremony, including best picture.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 14 Mar. 2026
Noun
Bradley finished with 15 points, and Anthony Dell'Orso matched a career-best with six 3-pointers and scored 26 points for the tournament's top seed.
—ABC News, 13 Mar. 2026
Continue reading … AMERICAN CULTURE QUIZ — Test yourself on baseball bests and nutty nibbles.
—FOXNews.com, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
They were bested by the Nashville Predators, 5-4 in a shootout, in what turned out to be a three-point game that elevated the Preds back into the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference and plopped the Kings back onto the wrong side of the playoff bubble.
—Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 3 Apr. 2026
If all goes as planned, Artemis II will best the record set by Apollo 13 in 1970 by 3,366 miles (about 5,400 kilometers), reaching 252,021 miles (about 405,000 kilometers) from Earth.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for best
Recent Examples of Synonyms for best
Noun
-
Soon, Gonzales asked about her bedroom attire in a series of texts in which the two talked about an in-person meeting at the campaign aide's home.—
Bayliss Wagner,
San Antonio Express-News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Daniel Craig is spotted in business attire on set in Athens, Greece on April 2 for his upcoming Damien Chazelle movie.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The records pulled back a curtain on favor-trading and frank communications in a chummy elite that looked past Epstein's 2008 guilty plea to solicitating prostitution from an underage girl in Florida.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The records pulled back a curtain on favor-trading and frank communications in a chummy elite that looked past Epstein’s 2008 guilty plea to solicitating prostitution from an underage girl in Florida.—
Jennifer Peltz,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Diaper cakes may not sound sophisticated, but there are several stylish options that make great centerpieces.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Faux vintage and synthetic materials are also no longer stylish.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Additionally, Sony is winding down its costume rental business which the studio has run for more than a century, since 1924.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Per the script, the character of Lori is supposed to enter wearing a Mianus U shirt — yes, Mianus is a real place in Connecticut — and the costume department has put her in a sexy crop top instead.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Giants scored a run in the bottom of the eighth on a bloop single by Arraez, but the Mets scored two runs off left-hander Erik Miller in the top of the ninth to put the game away.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
4 Apr. 2026
-
But the moment that deeply moved his former manager came in the top of the first, as the veteran shortstop readied himself for his first at-bat at Fenway as a visiting player.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In his March Madness brackets, Obama has the Arizona Wildcats men defeating the Duke Blue Devils (who have already been upset) and UConn's women's team winning it all.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The Wolverines defeated the Mustangs in state semis last year and in 2021 and 2025 and won state title games against Grapevine in 2018 and 2022.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The spa Set over 27,000 square feet and four floors; the elegant Guerlain Spa and Pillar Wellbeing was created by the studio Goddard Littlefair.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Cabins are rustically elegant and come with one to four bedrooms.—
Julie Bielenberg,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Deciding to become a gamer in your 30s is a specific kind of bravery.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Being gentle with yourself is a form of bravery, so go ahead and indulge your softer side.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Best.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/best. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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