as in surpasses
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 excels
What matters most to new international citizens is feeling secure and being able to build a real life in their new country, and Portugal excels at letting boomers build a new life without losing their roots.
—
Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 18 Sep. 2025
Mackage really excels with their coats and jackets.
—Renan Botelho, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2025
The Twin Cities excels not only in international travel, but also in happiness, as Minneapolis was recognized as the happiest city in the United States last year.
—Michelle Baran, AFAR Media, 18 Sep. 2025
Yet, when a star athlete—the rival who excels at everything—finally stumbles in a sport, a subtle surge of neurological pleasure briefly ignites.
—Richard Menger Md Mpa, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Drone dilemma The US excels at building large, expensive weaponry, but most American soldiers lack the know-how for fighting with unmanned systems.
—Daniel Wine, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2025
The deal could entice consumers curious about the satellite internet service, which excels at delivering high-speed broadband to rural and remote areas.
—Senior Reporter, PC Magazine, 12 Sep. 2025
Maus excels at races and personal challenges that require lots of running uphill.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 12 Sep. 2025
Coastline Pants Vuori certainly excels at crafting high-quality loungewear, but it’s also stocked with an impressive selection of dressier apparel as well, starting with the Coastline Pants that are now on sale for almost $40 off (which fans of the brand know is unheard of).
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 11 Sep. 2025
Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 18 Sep. 2025
Mackage really excels with their coats and jackets.
—Renan Botelho, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2025
The Twin Cities excels not only in international travel, but also in happiness, as Minneapolis was recognized as the happiest city in the United States last year.
—Michelle Baran, AFAR Media, 18 Sep. 2025
Yet, when a star athlete—the rival who excels at everything—finally stumbles in a sport, a subtle surge of neurological pleasure briefly ignites.
—Richard Menger Md Mpa, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Drone dilemma The US excels at building large, expensive weaponry, but most American soldiers lack the know-how for fighting with unmanned systems.
—Daniel Wine, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2025
The deal could entice consumers curious about the satellite internet service, which excels at delivering high-speed broadband to rural and remote areas.
—Senior Reporter, PC Magazine, 12 Sep. 2025
Maus excels at races and personal challenges that require lots of running uphill.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 12 Sep. 2025
Coastline Pants Vuori certainly excels at crafting high-quality loungewear, but it’s also stocked with an impressive selection of dressier apparel as well, starting with the Coastline Pants that are now on sale for almost $40 off (which fans of the brand know is unheard of).
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 11 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excels
Verb
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With the win, Wilson surpasses WNBA legends Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie, and Lauren Jackson — all three-time MVPs — to stand alone atop the league’s all-time MVP list.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
22 Sep. 2025
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This all sounds wonderful, but for me, oil control surpasses everything.—
Lily Wohlner,
Allure,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Tech industry leaders, meanwhile, have long pushed for higher H-1B caps, citing demand for high-skilled talent that exceeds the domestic supply.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
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The certification confirms that the Dutch brand meets and exceeds all three pillars of circularity.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Delaware tops the list, where mortgage-free retirees have an annual surplus of $1,764.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
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Servatii blends pureed apples into the dough then glazes them and tops them with a buttery cinammon crumb after the bake.—
Keith Pandolfi,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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That narrowly eclipses the previous low of -26 recorded between August 22–25.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Sep. 2025
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Most also reject the idea of celebrating a public figure’s death — and a substantial portion think the cost of gun deaths eclipses the need to safeguard the Second Amendment.—
Brendan Rascius,
Miami Herald,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Excels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excels. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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