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
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Recent Examples of excelled
Yeung excelled in math at school, and software engineering felt like a natural career path after her older brother suggested it.
—
Mike Winters
mickey Todiwala, CNBC, 4 June 2026
Preston is a shifty and fast skater who can attack inside ice laterally but can also play out wide and burn for odd-man rushes, and excelled after moving to his off-wing (left wing) in Vancouver, going east-west more on his forehand.
—Scott Wheeler, New York Times, 3 June 2026
An aspiring aerospace engineer, Pepich has excelled in rigorous courses such as engineering and computer science, AP literature and language, and AP calculus.
—Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2026
Like Herbig, Porter has excelled during his relatively brief time in the NFL.
—CBS News, 2 June 2026
The research found that the region particularly excelled in comfort and relaxation due to its high concentration of four-star and above hotels.
—Kaitlyn McInnis, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026
Félix and Elodie were athletes Félix was a track and field star who excelled in the high jump.
—Jacklyn Krol, PEOPLE, 24 May 2026
Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from dermatologists.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 22 May 2026
The student-run Mechatronics and Robotics Society, or MARS, had excelled in the preliminary rounds at the Florida Space Institute’s Exolith Lab near the University of Central Florida.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 May 2026
Mike Winters
mickey Todiwala, CNBC, 4 June 2026
Preston is a shifty and fast skater who can attack inside ice laterally but can also play out wide and burn for odd-man rushes, and excelled after moving to his off-wing (left wing) in Vancouver, going east-west more on his forehand.
—Scott Wheeler, New York Times, 3 June 2026
An aspiring aerospace engineer, Pepich has excelled in rigorous courses such as engineering and computer science, AP literature and language, and AP calculus.
—Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2026
Like Herbig, Porter has excelled during his relatively brief time in the NFL.
—CBS News, 2 June 2026
The research found that the region particularly excelled in comfort and relaxation due to its high concentration of four-star and above hotels.
—Kaitlyn McInnis, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026
Félix and Elodie were athletes Félix was a track and field star who excelled in the high jump.
—Jacklyn Krol, PEOPLE, 24 May 2026
Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from dermatologists.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 22 May 2026
The student-run Mechatronics and Robotics Society, or MARS, had excelled in the preliminary rounds at the Florida Space Institute’s Exolith Lab near the University of Central Florida.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excelled
Verb
-
The exact day the AI agents and bots surpassed human activity remains unclear.—
Samantha Elkins,
NBC news,
4 June 2026
-
Weeks later, the fundraiser had surpassed $200,000.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
Rumfield has exceeded expectations.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
30 May 2026
-
Ever since 2025, travel expenses have exceeded $200,000.—
Daniel Rivero,
Miami Herald,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
And markets appeared to agree, as optimism over tech prospects eclipsed geopolitical concerns.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
2 June 2026
-
The town above it, Cap d'Artrutx, has a long promenade along a low cliff edge where thousands will gather to watch totality, followed by a deep, partially eclipsed sun sinking into the Mediterranean.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Wild king salmon topped with tomatoes, olives and capers was accessorized with a puff pastry in the shape of a cartoon fish.—
Julissa James,
Los Angeles Times,
2 June 2026
-
Hewlett Packard Enterprise — The information technology stock surged 25% after Hewlett Packard posted current-quarter earnings and revenue guidance that topped analysts’ estimates.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Excelled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excelled. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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