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
Radhika Seth, Vogue, 8 Feb. 2025
Conclave and Wicked went into the ceremony leading this year’s film nominees with 11 nods each, including for the top prize of best picture.
—Hilary Lewis, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Feb. 2025
Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025
In his first full season as an NHL coach, Hiller equaled team bests for wins (48) and points (105) and broke the record for home wins (31).
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2025
Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 31 May 2025
Earlier in the day, Boulder speller Blanche Li was bested by tacos.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for best
Adjective
In the end, Gangs of New York went home empty-handed despite its 10 nods, and Rob Marshall’s Chicago won best picture.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 8 Feb. 2025
Conclave and Wicked went into the ceremony leading this year’s film nominees with 11 nods each, including for the top prize of best picture.
—Hilary Lewis, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Feb. 2025
Noun
Ghost bests the Grateful Dead nearly four times over.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025
In his first full season as an NHL coach, Hiller equaled team bests for wins (48) and points (105) and broke the record for home wins (31).
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2025
Verb
After just one loss in their seven preliminary round games, the Americans bested Finland, Sweden and Switzerland in the medal round to bring home gold.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 31 May 2025
Earlier in the day, Boulder speller Blanche Li was bested by tacos.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for best
Recent Examples of Synonyms for best
Noun
-
Since Covid, some companies have relaxed their standards for office attire, but Kelly and London say that wearing suitable work clothing remains key to professional success.—
Sophie Caldwell,
CNBC,
6 June 2025
-
Going on his eleventh year helming the ABC program, Muir, 51, opened up to PEOPLE about his life on and off camera — including his attire for news casts.—
Catherine Santino,
People.com,
2 June 2025
Noun
-
All of this is in the service of pushing more tax cuts for the rich, consolidating economic and political power in the hands of elites, and crushing the opposition to oligarchic rule.—
Jim Miller,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 June 2025
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Madison will reportedly portray twin sisters in a world where a mad prince (Prince Prospero in the original 1842 short story) welcomes wealthy elites into his castle as plague spreads across the land.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
4 June 2025
Adjective
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Designed to blend effortlessly with your favorite pieces, this stylish bag extension offers a fresh, customizable twist to elevate your everyday look.—
Essence,
Essence,
13 June 2025
-
Parker, the daughter of actress Thandiwe Newton and director Ol Parker, is already the spitting image of her stylish mother, who starred in the 1998 adaptation of Toni Morrison's Beloved and the Mission: Impossible franchise.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
People.com,
13 June 2025
Noun
-
So in my grandparents’ home, my maternal grandparents' home, there were incredible costume designs.—
Rachel Elspeth Gross,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
-
Gone was the spectacle – Norma Desmond’s decaying mansion, the dazzling costumes.—
Jenelle Riley,
Variety,
9 June 2025
Noun
-
The amount of sun and the exposure in your garden should be key factors in making your plant choices.—
Tim Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2025
-
That’s life, and that something that also drove our artistic choices to a heartwarming visual style, retaining proximity with our main character throughout her ups and downs that also manifest in the film’s palette.—
Kevin Giraud,
Variety,
8 June 2025
Verb
-
That’s supposed to keep immigrant families safe and defeat Trump?—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2025
-
His reign ended as another American emerged, Francis Ouimet, a mild-mannered amateur who defeated Vardon and Ted Ray in a playoff.—
Tim Corlett,
Forbes.com,
9 June 2025
Adjective
-
The newest model continues to fuse advanced materials with Japanese craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology to create a timepiece that is durable, precise and elegant.—
Fairchild Studio,
Footwear News,
6 June 2025
-
And Just Like That… is, for lack of a more elegant term, so goddamn weird this season.—
Emma Bocchi,
Vogue,
6 June 2025
Noun
-
But the tender, artful balladry and sorcerous studio experimentation that cemented his legacy are totally sui generis for the genre, comprising an act of emotional and creative bravery so rare and beautiful in American culture that it has never been successfully imitated.—
Derek Robertson,
The Washington Examiner,
13 June 2025
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Internet users can't get enough of Kenneth's bravery and determination, despite his small stature.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Best.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/best. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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