exceptional

adjective

ik-ˈsep-sh(ə-)nəl How to pronounce exceptional (audio)
Definition of exceptionalnext
1
as in extraordinary
being out of the ordinary an exceptional amount of snow fell in March

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in intelligent
having or showing quickness of mind a special school for exceptional children

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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 And with a cultural status in 1960 that rivaled that of Oprah Winfrey’s today, Hughes’ endorsement of Simone’s talent as a singer, performer and pianist carried exceptional weight. — Jason Miller, The Conversation, 1 Oct. 2026 Even DeepMind, with its exceptional budget, couldn’t build a machine that reliably beat the best human players. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 1 Oct. 2026 Since the beginning of July, Russian drones and missiles have been terrorizing Kyiv with exceptional intensity. — Dmytro Kuleba, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2026 The book therefore becomes, often despite itself, a curious ethnography of luxury in which the exceptional has become ordinary. — Olivier Bouchara, Vanity Fair, 30 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for exceptional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exceptional
  1. extraordinary
  2. disabled
  3. intelligent
  4. unusual
  5. impaired
  6. clever
  7. unique
  8. brilliant
Adjective
  • This keeps the performance informal and keeps the narrative — a staggering odyssey of injustices, abuses, travel adventures, extraordinary coincidences, losses, reunions, reflections and self-analysis — from becoming sensationalized.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Guadagnino speaks in calligraphy; adjectives almost certainly accompany a proper name — the extraordinary, the wonderful, the genius.
    — E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 2 Oct. 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
  • Legitimate concerns about abuse can be mitigated through intelligent regulation, not by eliminating a long-standing policing tool.
    — Rafael A. Mangual, Washington Post, 2 Oct. 2026
  • View gallery - 3 images There was a time when intelligent rings were what your level-three wizard wore in a Dungeons and Dragons campaign.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of intelligent
Adjective
  • The team now points to interactions between manganese and ytterbium as a possible source of the unusual Hall response.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The unusual diplomatic rebuke underscored the mistrust between the two countries.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of unusual
Adjective
  • The voluntary intoxication loophole means a person may be too impaired to make a meaningful choice and still fall outside the law’s protections for incapacity.
    — Ilana Turko, New York Daily News, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Sleep has been shown to play an important role in clearing waste products linked to impaired brain function and Alzheimer's disease from the brain, according to the NIH.
    — Ava Tsapatsaris, ABC News, 28 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
  • Beat shows how so many of the sounds that were prevalent in the mid-’90s contained a unique, end-of-the century sadness.
    — Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Instead, the self-regulating organization takes the day-to-day lead in devising standards, conducting oversight, enforcing rules, and punishing bad actors, drawing on its business members’ unique knowledge and real-world expertise.
    — William R. Gruver, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of unique
Adjective
  • Through the sheer force of his will and his brilliant comedic timing, Bratton was elevated to a cast member by the second season.
    — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Read Cep’s Profile of Kingsolver » Our editors and critics choose the most captivating, notable, brilliant, surprising, absorbing, weird, thought-provoking, and talked-about books.
    — Casey Cep, New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of brilliant

Browse Nearby Words

exceptionable
exceptional
exceptionality
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Exceptional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exceptional. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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