1
as in attire
dressy clothing
the family wore their best to the wedding
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in elite
individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class
only the best will go on to the finals
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to worst
to achieve a victory over
at last she's bested her card-playing mother at the game of hearts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of best
Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 15 Mar. 2026
See who won best picture, which films took home the most Oscars and more.
—Shafiq Najib, ABC News, 15 Mar. 2026
Staff, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
Then the speakers’ exhortations to excellence would build in emotional intensity until women began to weep and the meeting erupted in spontaneous pledges to set new personal bests.
—Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
Jacob Robinson, New York Times, 4 May 2026
Nowadays, old-school residents bemoan the neighborhood’s evolution from grungy to grandiose; what was once a warren of hedonism has become a breeding ground for characterless watering holes whose lack of personality is bested only by the exorbitance of their beer prices.
—Dan Stahl, New Yorker, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for best
Adjective
While it isn't favored to win best picture, it's been gaining momentum and could well pull off an upset.
—Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 15 Mar. 2026
See who won best picture, which films took home the most Oscars and more.
—Shafiq Najib, ABC News, 15 Mar. 2026
Noun
Test your knowledge of baseball bests, restaurant revamps and more in this week's American Culture Quiz.
—Staff, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
Then the speakers’ exhortations to excellence would build in emotional intensity until women began to weep and the meeting erupted in spontaneous pledges to set new personal bests.
—Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
With such big-name quarterbacks up for grabs, gang green should want to lose to avoid others besting them in the draft order.
—Jacob Robinson, New York Times, 4 May 2026
Nowadays, old-school residents bemoan the neighborhood’s evolution from grungy to grandiose; what was once a warren of hedonism has become a breeding ground for characterless watering holes whose lack of personality is bested only by the exorbitance of their beer prices.
—Dan Stahl, New Yorker, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for best
Recent Examples of Synonyms for best
Noun
-
Accents of lilacs and some speckled greens were featured behind the appliqué too, emphasizing the whimsy of Klum’s attire.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
12 May 2026
-
Ripley, who was in orange jail attire sitting in the jury box, looked down at the floor throughout the proceeding.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
While Season 1 was a delightful entry into this over-the-top world of the British elite, Season 2 has taken things up a notch with a tonally perfect and exceptional continuation of a truly scandalous series.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
15 May 2026
-
In recent weeks, Pratt's campaign has gained momentum after receiving high-profile donations, including a contribution from Lakers owner Jeanie Buss, and earning support from Hollywood's elite.—
Christina Dugan Ramirez,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
Subtle stripe detailing on both the sweater and pant hems gives this knit set a cohesive, stylish edge—and a pop of color—sans sacrificing comfort.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
16 May 2026
-
For wardrobe emergencies, try Roo’s Beach near Newquay, which specializes in stylish beach-to-bar clothing.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
My stylist, Roger Forker, has designed all my costumes for countless amounts of roasts.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
12 May 2026
-
So to then be there with 150 young men in that costume, singing and dancing, in itself was an extraordinary experience.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
Additional images showed an unknown number of snakes curled on top of one another inside a large crate that was placed in the back of an officer’s vehicle.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
16 May 2026
-
Recently, marinated, raw tuna cubes sat on top of a creamy hazelnut and bean pure while a fatty pork jowl was balanced by a tart salsa verde and sprigs of purslane.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
The left fielder had a big night against one of his former teams with a home run and four RBIs on Thursday as the Chicago White Sox defeated the Royals 6-2 in front of 14,913 at Rate Field.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
-
The missile will reportedly have a host of capabilities intended to defeat ballistic missile defenses, but Russia has not built a good track record with the vehicle.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
The bottoms don’t just feel more elegant, but are a quick way to make outfits appear upscale whether they’re styled with a T-shirt and sneakers or a button-up shirt and ballet flats.—
Rylee Johnston,
PEOPLE,
16 May 2026
-
The palate is velvety and elegant, balancing weight with restraint.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
Hannah Einbinder speaks about the cowardice of Hollywood on the Gaza genocide contrasted with Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil’s bravery.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
12 May 2026
-
There is still so much decency, intelligence, curiosity, kindness, and bravery among the people who work (or worked, before they were fired) in our government.—
Time,
Time,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Best.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/best. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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