Synonyms of excelled

excelled

verb

past tense of excel

as in surpassed

to be greater, better, or stronger than

the special effects in this new sci-fi extravaganza excel any that we've seen previously

Synonyms & Similar Words

• surpassed
• exceeded
• eclipsed
• topped
• outshone
• bettered
• transcended
• outdid
• outstripped
• outclassed
• mastered
• outdistanced
• beat
• outmatched
• outgunned
• overcame
• overtopped
• overshadowed
• went one better
• towered (over)
• defeated
• outpaced
• bested
• outperformed
• outweighed
• conquered
• outran
• surmounted
• subdued
• prevailed (over)
• overpassed
• trounced
• ran circles around
• shamed
• won (against)
• trumped
• licked
• overmatched
• worsted
• clobbered
• routed
• triumphed (over)
• outraced
• one-upped
• thrashed
• crushed
• outcompeted
• whipped
• walloped
• trimmed
• drubbed
• outbalanced
• skunked
• overbore

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lost (to)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of excelled

Deshaun Watson has struggled through three quarters in several games, but has excelled in the final 15 minutes. — ABC News, 19 Oct. 2026

Harjo’s previous series, Reservation Dogs, excelled at the episodic experience of abruptly dropping into new tones and settings, and this season of The Lowdown regains that rhythm. — Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026

Away from the gridiron, Efford excelled in the classroom, being selected to the All-ACC Academic Team. — Chantz Martin Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Carolina has installed some shotgun keeper stuff that Young has excelled at. — Jonathan Jones, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2026

Jacklynn excelled in history at school, considered studying archaeology before choosing fashion design at university and spent her teenage years enjoying antique sales, car boot sales and Antiques Roadshow. — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2026

From this format emerges the tacit thesis that the Bicentennial cultural activities excelled at provoking critical, imaginative reflections on America’s past and future from artmakers and from ordinary citizens alike. — Anna Kornbluh, ARTnews.com, 7 Oct. 2026

Eva Marie Saint, the Academy Award-winning actress who excelled in roles opposite such stars as Cary Grant and Marlon Brando, has died, according to her publicist Jeff Sanderson. — Dan Heching, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026

Braves left-hander Ray Kerr, who excelled down the stretch as a long reliever, served as the opener Sunday. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026