EXCELLENT Synonyms: 141 Similar and Opposite Words

excellent

adjective

ˈek-s(ə-)lənt

Definition of excellent

as in superb

of the very best kind fast-food fans rate this chain's fries as excellent

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 excellent That makes now an excellent time to consider applying for a new card. — Jason Stauffer, CNBC, 6 July 2026 An excellent company can become an expensive stock, just as a troubled company can cease to be an attractive short. — Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026 Algeria hit back with some assistance from the corner flag and excellent dribbling by Rafik Belghali. — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 5 July 2026 Zellers had an excellent freshman season, posting 18-16-34 totals in 38 games. — Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 5 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for excellent

Recent Examples of Synonyms for excellent

Adjective

As other reviewers have also noted, sound quality is superb on the GA lawn, which was full to bursting with blankets and rentable lawn chairs.

— Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 7 July 2026
Curtain Bluff, Antigua Come for the pair of beaches, exceptional clifftop spa, and superb cuisine.

— Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026

Definition of superb

Adjective

The resort provides a hiking guide—Nafea Abdeljalil was wonderful—and of course transport.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 July 2026
Izzy, a vulnerable, dry-humored lesbian, played with a hummingbird intensity by the wonderful Molly Bernard, marvels that the experience is hard to describe to anyone who hasn’t been through it, like sharing a dream.

— Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 9 July 2026

Definition of wonderful

Adjective

Conwell played off the ball a lot but showed a nifty handle when given the chance, delivering a terrific pass in transition for a Jahmir Young score and swerving past a defender on a neat move to the basket before missing a shot at the rim.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 4 July 2026
He has been blessed with terrific talent but clearly has melded that talent to win games and keep the clubhouse on the same page.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026

Definition of terrific

Adjective

Through their fantastical ordeals, the X-Men illustrate qualities that inspire viewers, young and old.

— Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
Kylian Mbappé made a fantastic run down the left side and into the box before he was fouled by Noussair Mazraoui, resulting in a penalty for France.

— Joe Murphy, NBC news, 9 July 2026

Definition of fantastic

Adjective

Especially the guy who bangs a wrecking ball against the historic East Wing to make room for an incongruous ballroom monstrosity, who mars the sacred Oval Office with gold glitter and paves over the lovely Rose Garden.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
All in all, launching the book has been an exhausting and lovely gift of an experience.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 July 2026

Definition of lovely

Adjective

As far as tech goes, there’s a 65-inch Samsung smart television with streaming capabilities and a Marshall speaker with quite a fabulous sound system at the marble work desk.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 July 2026
There’s so many interactions between us and fabulous accidents that just happen.

— Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 8 July 2026

Definition of fabulous

Browse Nearby Words

excellency

excellent

excellently

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Excellent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excellent. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of excellent

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on excellent

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

effulgence

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes