as in special
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in more
to a greater or higher extent
he knows property law better than anyone else
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of better
Zeke Miller and, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Feb. 2023
Buschatzke and others argue that a better and more equitable approach would be to start accounting for evaporation and other water losses from the reservoirs and along the river in the Lower Basin.
—Los Angeles Times, 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
Jimi Calhoun, Austin American-Statesman, 16 Apr. 2024
Conversely, credit card delinquencies declined for sports betters, a trend that showed up a couple years after legalization and surprised Hollenbeck.
—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 26 July 2024
Paul Taylor, New York Times, 1 May 2025
That village is blessed by the camaraderie and support found in two fantastic trustee candidates, both of whom will no doubt work together to better their village for years to come.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for better
Adjective
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
Buschatzke and others argue that a better and more equitable approach would be to start accounting for evaporation and other water losses from the reservoirs and along the river in the Lower Basin.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2023
Adverb
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
Noun
In the dance of love there are no betters — there is only the pursuit of radical equality.
—Jimi Calhoun, Austin American-Statesman, 16 Apr. 2024
Conversely, credit card delinquencies declined for sports betters, a trend that showed up a couple years after legalization and surprised Hollenbeck.
—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 26 July 2024
Verb
His ability to turn defence into attack with that same speed is just as important — his 54 progressive carries this season are only bettered by Gibbs-White (63), Elanga (79) and Hudson-Odoi (126).
—Paul Taylor, New York Times, 1 May 2025
That village is blessed by the camaraderie and support found in two fantastic trustee candidates, both of whom will no doubt work together to better their village for years to come.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for better
Recent Examples of Synonyms for better
Adjective
-
My mom made every holiday feel special, but Mother’s Day was always hers.—
Mara Martin,
Parents,
9 May 2025
-
The show featured a total of 82 looks that span across five concentrations: knitwear, sportswear, intimate apparel, special occasion, and children’s wear, all inspired by personal themes, anecdotes, and stories ranging from sustainability, technology, and cultural heritage to shape their looks.—
Essence,
Essence,
9 May 2025
Adverb
-
The silent auction featured generous donations from local businesses, including gift cards to restaurants, salons, massage studios, and exciting experience packages, helping to make the evening even more memorable.—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 May 2025
-
Prepare Food and Beverages A light selection of snacks and beverages makes any gathering feel more welcoming and relaxed.—
Cori Sears,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 May 2025
Noun
-
Francis and Pope Benedict XVI took steps to end decades of abuse and cover-ups, changing church laws to punish abusers and their clerical superiors who hid their wrongdoing.—
Nicole Winfield,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2025
-
Eli is working the crime scene’s perimeter; Elliot storms over and asks him about talking about Isabella with his superiors.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
1 May 2025
Noun
-
Minnesota trailed at halftime thanks to a 25-15 advantage for the Warriors on the glass and a 17-8 lead in free throws made.—
The Athletic NBA Staff,
New York Times,
13 May 2025
-
Coker and Moore have the advantage in roles department, while Chisena has the advantage with special teams.—
Mike Kaye,
Charlotte Observer,
13 May 2025
Verb
-
Miller appeared in only six of Minnesota’s 12 playoff games, exclusively in garbage time and failing to exceed one minute of playing time in any contest.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
16 May 2025
-
The priciest units sold so far exceeded $3,000 per square feet, a metric used to compare neighborhoods.—
Vinod Sreeharsha,
Miami Herald,
16 May 2025
Verb
-
The program seeks to tackle the issue through nutrition, physical activity, cutting back on medications and improving food and drug quality and safety.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA Today,
15 May 2025
-
However, this premium valuation appears justified when considering the company’s extraordinary growth trajectory and improving profitability metrics.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2025
Adjective
-
In 1982, Israel demonstrated exceptional tactical precision in Operation Mole Cricket 19 in the Beqaa Valley in Lebanon, destroying the majority of Syrian aircraft without suffering a single loss.—
Amira El-Fekki,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 May 2025
-
Poor records and inability to confirm the data about these people that were thought to be these special, exceptional, healthy agers is a real problem.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
8 May 2025
Noun
-
The Indian army said in a statement late on Friday that drones were sighted in 26 locations across a wide area of India's west and northwest from Kashmir and states bordering Pakistan to the edge of the Arabian Sea.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
11 May 2025
-
Five players who signed reserve/future contracts in January participated: edge rusher Tre’Mon Morris-Brash, safety Emany Johnson, receiver Jaylen Johnson, offensive lineman Karsen Barnhart and linebacker Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste.—
Daniel Popper,
New York Times,
10 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Better.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/better. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share