EXCEPTIONAL Synonyms: 247 Similar and Opposite Words

exceptional

adjective

ik-ˈsep-sh(ə-)nəl

Definition of exceptional

as in extraordinary

being out of the ordinary an exceptional amount of snow fell in March

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in disabled

deprived of the power to perform one or more natural bodily activities her experience working with exceptional children was rewarding and inspiring

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in intelligent

having or showing quickness of mind a special school for exceptional children

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 exceptional The Outstanding Performer of the Year award celebrates individuals who have given exceptional performances in film. — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026 But at the very top end, the market continues to produce extraordinary results for bottles with exceptional rarity and provenance. — George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 24 Sep. 2026 No part of the state is currently classified as being in severe, extreme or exceptional drought. — Sacbee.com, 24 Sep. 2026 Its exceptional preservation could also offer clues about the outside of the dinosaur’s body. — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for exceptional

Recent Examples of Synonyms for exceptional

Adjective

Movies bring audiences across the country the unique magic of sitting with their neighbors to see extraordinary stories told on the big screen at their local cinema.

— Paul Gunsky, IndieWire, 25 Sep. 2026
Speed At All Costs The cars of the early 1990s were extraordinary machines, bristling with active suspension and aerodynamic wizardry.

— Jessica Vitiritti, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of extraordinary

Adjective

The site near the Spanish border draws millions of pilgrims each year, especially sick and disabled believers hoping for a cure from the famed spring water in the Lourdes grotto where the visions purportedly occurred.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Sep. 2026
Carey believes Hope Florida is an example of how disabled people’s welfare is disregarded.

— Justin Garcia, Miami Herald, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of disabled

Adjective

By providing 24/7 availability and intelligent routing, AI contact centers can help reduce wait times, improve access and ensure no call for help goes unanswered.

— Sameer Bhat, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
With every whimper, sigh, howl, bark and head tilt, these dogs create an empathetic portrayal of a highly intelligent creature that has been through battle and has the scars (and nightmares) to prove it.

— Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of intelligent

Adjective

Voters are deeply concerned about income disparity but also skeptical about the unusual approach of the billionaire tax.

— Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
The incident adds an unusual detail to the growing record of autonomous AI behavior.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of unusual

Adjective

Archuleta, whose granddaughter was killed by an impaired driver, said working to turn the bill into law was a personal fight for him.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
Allegedly impaired driver slams into city bus The dual tragedies on Tuesday evening unfolded in rapid succession.

— Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of impaired

Adjective

Luckily, Amazon’s fitness section is loaded with clever devices to make home workouts fun, engaging, and a little sweaty.

— Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2026
There are some genuinely clever ideas on display, including space-saving furniture, transforming interiors, and ways of opening the home up to the outdoors.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of clever

Adjective

This unique propagation gives rise to wave trajectories with directional rotation, or handedness, which dictates whether paths rotate clockwise or counterclockwise.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 28 Sep. 2026
Season two goes a little differently than season one, because the music exec in charge of casting the show (Ashley Padilla) is being lightly blackmailed by two … unique candidates (Jane Wickline and new cast member Grace Reiter).

— Bethy Squires, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of unique

Adjective

The band’s brilliant but troubled producer, Martin Hannett, was far more interested in making guitars sound like machinery or a swarm of hornets than, say, a vintage Telecaster.

— Jem Aswad, Variety, 25 Sep. 2026
With a brilliant hardware funnel and an options market pricing in juicy short-term premiums, Meta looks primed for a powerful breakout into 2027.

— Michael Khouw, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of brilliant

Cite this Entry

Style

“Exceptional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exceptional. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of exceptional

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

heterodox

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

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

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

Popular in Wordplay

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 2

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes