1
as in surpassed
to be greater, better, or stronger than
this year's profits should better last year's by a wide margin
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in improved
to make better
social workers and reformers trying to better the lives of inner-city residents
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bettered
In 2014, Messi began with that famously outrageous winner against Bosnia, arguably bettered it against Iran a few days later, with a splendid winner in stoppage time.
—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
The Flames have bettered their conference finish every season since joining in 2023, winning both the regular-season and tournament titles this year.
—
Colleen Kane,
Chicago Tribune,
29 May 2026
Her 13th place there is unlikely to be bettered at the real thing.
—
Jon O'Brien,
Vulture,
11 May 2026
Rare is the Broadway season that hasn’t been bettered by an August Wilson revival, and this very busy spring is no exception.
—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
28 Apr. 2026
Yeboah bettered that in the 67th minute, taking advantage of another defensive breakdown to poke a pass from Tomás Chancalay at the left post past Marcinkowski.
—
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2026
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
The Flames have bettered their conference finish every season since joining in 2023, winning both the regular-season and tournament titles this year.
—
Colleen Kane,
Chicago Tribune,
29 May 2026
Her 13th place there is unlikely to be bettered at the real thing.
—
Jon O'Brien,
Vulture,
11 May 2026
Rare is the Broadway season that hasn’t been bettered by an August Wilson revival, and this very busy spring is no exception.
—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
28 Apr. 2026
Yeboah bettered that in the 67th minute, taking advantage of another defensive breakdown to poke a pass from Tomás Chancalay at the left post past Marcinkowski.
—
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bettered
Verb
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The search has now surpassed the first 72 hours –– the most critical window for finding survivors.
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But, in the decades that followed, other cities caught up and eventually surpassed New York; one of them was Ibiza, where clubs like Pacha showed vacationing Europeans how to rave all night.
Verb
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Advances in childbirth — including prenatal care, Cesarean sections, blood transfusions, antibiotics and neonatal intensive care — also dramatically improved maternal and infant survival compared with colonial America.
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The incursions showed drone defenses in Europe need to rapidly be improved, the IISS said.
Verb
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Between 2022 and 2024, public cash injections exceeded 10%of GDP, according to a study published last year by the Institute of Economics and Peace, an Australian think tank.
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If the cost of tokens has already exceeded the cost of the employees they were meant to replace, when does the comparison start running in the other direction?
Verb
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It isn't intended to be enhanced by treating the inmate with hostility and cruelty.
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Others, already on the flight home, leave with their reputations enhanced, their followers multiplied and their place in World Cup folklore secure.
Verb
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The North Korean naval fleet has long been eclipsed by South Korean and United States naval forces, which field modern warships and submarines with sophisticated electronics and powerful missile launch capabilities.
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Among tight ends, that’s an annual average eclipsed only by San Francisco’s George Kittle and Arizona’s Trey McBride.
Verb
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Fans sang the 1971 anthem in unison after the USMNT topped Australia 2-0, perhaps becoming a new tradition for soccer fans.
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So do savings accounts, CDs and gold, the asset classes that topped the Gallup poll at times in the Great Recession era.
Cite this Entry
“Bettered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bettered. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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