as in more
to a greater or higher extent
he knows property law better than anyone else
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to improve
to make better
social workers and reformers trying to better the lives of inner-city residents
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in special
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of better
Adam Shaw, Fox News, 8 Feb. 2023
The White House, ahead of the speech, paired police reform with bringing down violence, suggesting that giving police better training tools could lead to less crime nationwide.
—Zeke Miller and, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Feb. 2023
Sammy Rothstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2023
Last year, the office held listening sessions in Grove Hall, Roxbury, Mattapan, and Jamaica Plain to better understand the needs of women and gender-expansive individuals.
—Tiana Woodard, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Feb. 2023
Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Betting on a certain player to record a hit or strike out a certain number of betters might be a better play than trying to predict the winner of an individual game.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 July 2025
Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Studies that compare genetic variation between pairs of siblings have been able to better control for socioeconomic backgrounds, as well as parenting practices and ethnicities; in these studies, the direct effects of DNA on IQ look even smaller, still with no hint of a biological mechanism.
—Eric Turkheimer, The Atlantic, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for better
Adverb
On Tuesday Biden touted increases in Border Patrol staffing and also increased fentanyl seizures at the border, which officials have said shows that apprehension is getting better.
—Adam Shaw, Fox News, 8 Feb. 2023
The White House, ahead of the speech, paired police reform with bringing down violence, suggesting that giving police better training tools could lead to less crime nationwide.
—Zeke Miller and, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Feb. 2023
Noun
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
Last year, the office held listening sessions in Grove Hall, Roxbury, Mattapan, and Jamaica Plain to better understand the needs of women and gender-expansive individuals.
—Tiana Woodard, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Feb. 2023
Verb
Her Canadian Open title win showcased the teenager’s ability to keep calm and carry on when elders and betters are losing their heads.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Betting on a certain player to record a hit or strike out a certain number of betters might be a better play than trying to predict the winner of an individual game.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 July 2025
Adjective
As its capabilities increase, AI may eventually learn how to better itself, leading to more rapid increases.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Studies that compare genetic variation between pairs of siblings have been able to better control for socioeconomic backgrounds, as well as parenting practices and ethnicities; in these studies, the direct effects of DNA on IQ look even smaller, still with no hint of a biological mechanism.
—Eric Turkheimer, The Atlantic, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for better
Recent Examples of Synonyms for better
Adverb
-
In addition to preserving natural ecosystems and the sustainable fisheries that depend on them, reefs may help to protect coastlines from storms and floods, which will become ever more urgent as climate change and rising sea levels give rise to more dangerous storms.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
31 Oct. 2025
-
For something more immersive, the resort brings in expert wellness practitioners for week-long retreats.—
Jacqui Gifford,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Clotworthy and then-partner Michael Fabila escaped the flow and went back to work for much of the next 24 hours blocking traffic on Highway 101, actions their CHP superiors said saved lives.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
17 Oct. 2025
-
The ensign, who had neglected to check the tides before entering the harbor, immediately reported his failure to his superiors, who fired him and hauled him before a court-martial.—
Davis Winkie,
USA Today,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Real Madrid chief Florentino Perez was dead against the idea, with his club arguing that breaking the traditional home and away format adulterated the competition, while also expressing concern over participating teams gaining a financial advantage.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Legalized betting has certain security advantages in that unusual betting patterns — such as large bets being placed on a random player’s performance — can be immediately flagged.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Starbucks expects the total value of its China retail business to exceed $13 billion, including the value of licenses, according to the statement.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Australia’s hypersonic ambition Hypersonic flight, defined as speeds exceeding Mach 5, has become one of the most strategically important frontiers in aerospace and defense.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
This helps improve posture and stability, according to the brand, though the sneakers have an ergonomic insole that provides arch support, too.—
Clara McMahon,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
-
The report calls on leaders to focus on green solutions that can also improve health outcomes, and warns that political backsliding on climate commitments will only cause more harm.—
Simmone Shah,
Time,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Team it with ballet flats or sneakers for a casual day of apple-picking or tailgating this season, or dress it up with tights and boots for holiday celebrations and other special occasions.—
Clara McMahon,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
-
At the end of the day, that is what makes this show so special, rather than just another dance show, is because there’s an actual technique book based off of these dances that you guys are watching the couples dance.—
McKinley Franklin,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Edis, chief of the Landon family office and a protégé of its founder, the late swashbuckling billionaire Timothy Landon, who’s legendary as the chief political advisor to his military school chum, the sultan of Oman, notes that Swain gives Houlihan Lokey an extra edge.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
1 Nov. 2025
-
This is the original pool, an infinity-edge spot where, years ago, Bobby would spend hours splashing and then join us at Lotus for lunch.—
Jacqui Gifford,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
And the 39-point advantage goes down as the Heat’s biggest halftime lead in franchise history, surpassing a 34-point halftime lead against the Portland Trail Blazers on March 29, 2024.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
25 Oct. 2025
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At the beginning of summer, for the first time in months, my daily step count surpassed a mile.—
Lucinda Rosenfeld,
New Yorker,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Better.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/better. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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