1
as in extraordinary
being out of the ordinary
an exceptional amount of snow fell in March
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
3
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
There is a lot of exceptional rum out there to choose from, and Mount Gay has been responsible for a fair share of it.
—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
24 June 2026
The culture begins to confuse exceptional mobility with collective freedom.
—
Jabari M. Evans,
The Conversation,
24 June 2026
Bringing home a colossal 85-inch home theater display equipped with thousands of active local dimming zones and AI scenario scaling for under $1,000 is an exceptional value.
—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
24 June 2026
Tempur-Pedic’s reputation as a luxury mattress brand with exceptional performance can be attributed to its roots—the cushioning material was originally developed for NASA’s pilot test expeditions.
—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for exceptional
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
24 June 2026
The culture begins to confuse exceptional mobility with collective freedom.
—
Jabari M. Evans,
The Conversation,
24 June 2026
Bringing home a colossal 85-inch home theater display equipped with thousands of active local dimming zones and AI scenario scaling for under $1,000 is an exceptional value.
—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
24 June 2026
Tempur-Pedic’s reputation as a luxury mattress brand with exceptional performance can be attributed to its roots—the cushioning material was originally developed for NASA’s pilot test expeditions.
—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for exceptional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exceptional
Adjective
-
Our work complements beautifully the extraordinary work that has already been done by the producers, sales agents and distributors of Mike Leigh’s films over the years.
-
The Vietnam War was fought by young Americans thrust into extraordinary circumstances.
Adjective
-
The Dodge became disabled, and the troopers arrested the driver.
-
Homeless residents, many of whom don’t have a car or are disabled, now have to travel outside of Skid Row to get stamps or mail a package.
Adjective
-
Alan was successful, intelligent, social and well-liked.
-
Our goal is not to tell you what to think, but to give you the essential knowledge and understanding to come to your own intelligent conclusions.
Adjective
-
What Trump is doing is unusual.
-
Heat domes are not unusual, but the temperatures in this one have been.
Adjective
-
An uncertain situation can still be a poor investment when a weak balance sheet or a permanently impaired business is involved.
-
Peptide skin-care products have the unique ability to target a host of skin concerns, from sagging to an impaired skin barrier, in part because there are so many different types of peptides.
Adjective
-
See, for me, naming a snowplow isn’t just about clever wordplay.
-
Later in the day, your mind finds a clever solution, a useful contact or a whole new point of view.
Adjective
-
Explore unique crafts, goods and gifts from over 15 local vendors.
-
And cadets were on the hunt for unique pieces to add to their collections.
Adjective
-
In late May, in broad daylight, residents across Massachusetts and beyond saw a brilliant flash in the sky, followed by two sonic booms that rattled windows, shook houses, and prompted a flood of 911 calls.
-
To play that part is brilliant, and to work with [prosthetic designer] Mike Marino and do that whole thing with the makeup is amazing.
Cite this Entry
“Exceptional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exceptional. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
