Synonyms of better

better 1 of 4

adjective

as in special

Related Words

• special
• exceptional
• fancy
• high-grade
• excellent
• elite
• superior
• exclusive
• choice
• great
• elegant
• superb
• wonderful
• terrific
• outstanding
• rare
• exquisite
• splendid
• superlative
• first-class
• prime
• select
• jewellike
• marvelous
• par excellence
• stellar
• premium
• fabulous
• unsurpassed
• bijou
• fine
• transcendent
• classic
• top
• top-notch
• first-rate
• dainty
• sensational
• noble
• sterling
• tip-top
• recherché
• grand
• delicate
• supernal
• ultrarare

Dissimilar Words

• gross
• rough
• commercial
• coarse
• popular
• common
• vulgar
• tasteless
• unpolished
• unrefined
• ordinary
• uncultured
• raffish
• kitschy
• lesser
• uncultivated
• average
• mediocre
• lowbrow
• rough-hewn
• kitsch
• unsatisfactory
• inferior
• second-class
• unacceptable
• wanting
• deficient
• second-rate
• substandard
• mass-produced
• low-grade
• run-of-the-mine
• run-of-the-mill

better

2 of 4

adverb

as in more

to a greater or higher extent

he knows property law better than anyone else

Synonyms & Similar Words

• more

better

3 of 4

noun

1

as in superior

one who is above another in rank, station, or office

be polite to your betters and to your inferiors in equal measure

Synonyms & Similar Words

• superior
• boss
• elder
• leader
• master
• chief
• senior
• head

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• subordinate
• assistant
• inferior
• deputy
• underling

2

as in advantage

the more favorable condition or position in a competition

she got the better of her opponents very early in the race

Synonyms & Similar Words

• advantage
• edge
• opportunity
• odds
• high ground
• stead
• start
• jump
• upper hand
• vantage
• pull
• lead
• privilege
• bulge
• coign of vantage
• drop
• superiority
• benefit
• whip hand
• inside track
• margin
• catbird seat
• allowance
• dominance
• precedence
• transcendence
• preference
• prerogative
• predominance
• mastery
• head start
• ascendancy
• leg up
• supremacy
• foothold
• seniority
• transcendency
• windfall
• command
• blessing
• break
• boon
• godsend
• felicity
• manna

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• disadvantage
• penalty
• strike
• drawback
• liability
• detriment
• handicap
• minus
• disparity
• failing
• imbalance
• inequality
• let
• disability
• impairment
• interference
• shortcoming
• stop
• hindrance
• catch
• obstacle
• obstruction
• impediment
• stranglehold
• embarrassment
• check
• bar
• unevenness
• hurdle
• rub
• hitch
• setback
• clog
• crimp
• shackle
• lurch
• manacle
• trammel

better

4 of 4

verb

1

as in to exceed

to be greater, better, or stronger than

this year's profits should better last year's by a wide margin

Synonyms & Similar Words

• exceed
• surpass
• top
• eclipse
• beat
• excel
• outdo
• transcend
• outstrip
• outshine
• best
• outdistance
• overcome
• outclass
• master
• overtop
• outmatch
• go one better
• tower (over)
• outgun
• worst
• defeat
• overshadow
• outweigh
• outpace
• outrun
• run circles around
• shame
• one-up
• prevail (over)
• outperform
• triumph (over)
• win (against)
• surmount
• conquer
• subdue
• lick
• rout
• trump
• outcompete
• trim
• outrace
• clobber
• crush
• whip
• thrash
• overmatch
• trounce
• overpass
• outbalance
• overbear
• wallop
• skunk
• drub

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lose (to)

2

as in to improve

to make better

social workers and reformers trying to better the lives of inner-city residents

Synonyms & Similar Words

• improve
• enhance
• perfect
• help
• refine
• remedy
• ameliorate
• upgrade
• enrich
• remediate
• amend
• reinforce
• correct
• meliorate
• strengthen
• rectify
• intensify
• reform
• fine
• rehabilitate
• revise
• fine-tune
• boost
• rework
• edit
• revamp
• refurbish
• polish
• emend
• fortify
• beef (up)
• hone
• rehab
• redraft
• retouch
• touch up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• worsen
• hurt
• harm
• impair
• damage
• spoil
• injure
• reduce
• tarnish
• vitiate
• flaw
• lower
• diminish
• lessen
• blight
• disfigure
• mar
• deface
• endamage
• blemish

Synonym Chooser

How is the word better distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of better are ameliorate, help, and improve. While all these words mean "to make more acceptable or to bring nearer a standard," improve and better are general and interchangeable and apply to what can be made better whether it is good or bad.

measures to further improve the quality of medical care

immigrants hoping to better their lot

When might ameliorate be a better fit than better?

The synonyms ameliorate and better are sometimes interchangeable, but ameliorate implies making more tolerable or acceptable conditions that are hard to endure.

tried to ameliorate the lives of people in the tenements

When can help be used instead of better?

The words help and better can be used in similar contexts, but help implies a bettering that still leaves room for improvement.

a coat of paint would help that house

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of better

Adjective

Implementing better protocol for detection and providing translation services to parents in these areas is essential so they can get diagnosed and referred, said Beckerman. — Nada Hassanein, USA TODAY, 8 Feb. 2023

Yet the company hasn’t linked their use to better weight-loss outcomes, in part because people don’t use them consistently. — Geoffrey A. Fowler, Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2023

Adverb

Renner requested documents showing communications from HCPS to better understand how the book challenges are addressed. — Joshua Q. Nelson, Fox News, 7 Feb. 2023

In related news, Emma Foehringer Merchant wrote a fascinating story for Undark about researchers creating a repository of birds and bats killed at solar and wind farms, to better understand why they’re getting killed and how to prevent it. — Sammy Rothstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2023

Noun

Laster allegedly sold this information to two betters for about $100,000. — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 9 Mar. 2026

The fact that there was a 54 million dollar bounty out on this guy collectively from betters, including one user called MAGAMyMan, who had won $553,000 on the timing of all this. — Brian Barrett, Wired News, 5 Mar. 2026

Verb

My job as governor is to better the lives of our people, and that's for Democrats, Republicans, or independents. — Susan Page, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2026

Yet again, nobody on the field bettered the Bosnian’s 13 defensive contributions, the majority of which came down to his nine clearances. — Beren Cross, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026

Phrases Containing better

• better half
• get the better of
• go one better
• think better of