FIRST-CLASS Synonyms: 141 Similar and Opposite Words

first-class

adjective

ˈfərs(t)-ˈklas

Definition of first-class

as in excellent

of the very best kind a first-class production of a classic American musical

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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 first-class Roundtrip economy prices are already up roughly 10% this year for both domestic and international flights over Thanksgiving week, according to Points Path CEO and founder Julian Kheel, and business and first-class seats are up 6% to 10% as well. — Dan Avery,lily Wolfson, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026 Helping plan their next move, Louisette bought Ortiz and Simon two first-class train tickets each, to two different stations beyond their destination. — Literary Hub, 31 Aug. 2026 The lack of hills and the first-class bike lane infrastructure make cycling here a breeze. — Tribune Content Agency, Baltimore Sun, 25 Aug. 2026 So why not revive the Century 21 theater in San Jose and turn it into a first-class IMAX theater for Silicon Valley? — Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for first-class

Recent Examples of Synonyms for first-class

Adjective

Lampard felt his players deserved a point after creating several excellent chances.

— Stuart James, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Picturesque views of the surrounding Casco Bay are abundant, and its consistently excellent food scene has made the city a culinary hot spot for the ages.

— Lori Keong, Architectural Digest, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of excellent

Adjective

Chief among Kvaratskhelia’s standout moments in a PSG shirt was his wonderful solo goal against Aston Villa in last year’s Champions League quarter-final.

— Tom Burrows, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Many wonderful and terrible things have happened in the 25 years since, some related to the 9/11 attacks, many not at all.

— Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of wonderful

Adjective

Typically, Mora will pick up the ball in the left channel and run at a defender, before slowing to a jog, then use his superb balance to burst past his flat-footed opponent on either side, like in this example against Fiorentina last month.

— Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Cam Schlitter gave up one run and two hits in eight superb innings, and the New York Yankees scored five two-out runs in the 10th in a series-clinching, 6-3 victory over the Angels on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of superb

Adjective

The front three of Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro already looks terrific, while Maxence Lacroix is an extremely solid defensive addition and Emi Martinez is an upgrade on Robert Sanchez in goal.

— Nick Miller, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Buddy expands to 1,771 screens after a terrific opening last weekend.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of terrific

Adjective

Countries with far smaller digital ecosystems, like Cambodia and Laos, have even greater struggles to attract and retain AI talent.

— Brian Wong, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2026
The tropical cyclone reached Category 5, defined by sustained winds of 157 mph or greater, overnight Friday before losing some of its steam and settling into Category 4’s limits of sustained winds of 130 to 156 mph by Saturday.

— Dennis Romero, NBC news, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of great

Adjective

The café is tucked away in the heart of the garden—a lovely pit stop.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Sep. 2026
This is an exciting step forward for Eisenberg the director, who had a breakthrough a couple of years ago with the lovely A Real Pain, which earned co-star Kieran Culkin an Academy Award.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of lovely

Adjective

First and foremost, Daniel’s done a fantastic job here, and we’re thrilled with the last couple of seasons.

— Beren Cross, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Louis Garrel has become a French icon of the screen at only 43, known for his brooding good looks but also his fantastic range in often-dangerous movies.

— Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of fantastic

Adjective

The nicest of the quartet, Springfield features a large clubhouse, a beautiful practice area with an oversized putting green and a challenging 6,906-yard course that is hilly, woody and will ask you to hit lots of precise shots.

— Langston Wertz Jr, Charlotte Observer, 6 Sep. 2026
Forests that avoid the worst fire and drought impacts should still offer beautiful color, but the viewing window may be shorter.

— Doyle Rice, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of beautiful

Browse Nearby Words

first blush

first-class

first estate

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“First-class.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/first-class. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of first-class

adjective

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