inferior 1 of 2

Definition of inferiornext
1
as in lower
situated lower down creatures that inhabit the dark, inferior depths of the ocean

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
4
as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard an inferior science textbook that was out-of-date the day that it was published

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

5
6

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 inferior
Noun
Someone briskly assessing workmanship or disparaging a social inferior? — Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2026 That comes to the Philippines in the form of war, as well as through the invocation, or establishment, of American-style modes of government and education that place Filipinos along this racial hierarchy, identifying them as these inferiors that need to be taught how to govern themselves. — Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Luckily for the Hurricanes, the rest of their game on defense has held up against a pair of inferior opponents. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2026 In theory, charging consumers more for an increasingly inferior product is not a sound strategy. — Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inferior
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inferior
Noun
  • Keeping track of scheming or incompetent subordinates has always been the autocrat’s chief burden.
    — Seva Gunitsky, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Investigators have accused one of his subordinates of running a fraud scheme, though Kravchenko himself has not been charged or named a suspect.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Despite those lower court rulings, the practice has continued nationally, said Gregory Chen, the senior director of government relations for the Immigration Lawyers Association.
    — Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 3 Sep. 2025
  • And ultimately, the Supreme Court overruled those lower court rulings and did declare the embryos as children qualifying under the wrongful death statute.
    — Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2024
Adjective
  • The bus and a security checkpoint booth were damaged, and one border service employee suffered minor injuries, police said.
    — HANNA ARHIROVA, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
  • In the 120 years that the State Russian Museum has owned the painting, only minor conservation has been carried out.
    — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Jaguar also built a car with long, low proportions that are unique in its segment and required a new platform.
    — Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Set the scene For a hotel with some of the priciest rooms in the city, Capella Bangkok feels decidedly low key.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • With a team that has a margin of error as small as the Dolphins, these penalties are unacceptable.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Likewise, the underlying crisis of commercially unacceptable risk in the Strait isn’t anywhere close to being resolved.
    — David Faris, Washington Post, 5 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Even lesser-scale incidents like the Varsity Blues college admissions scandal and the Volkswagen emissions scandal erode trust in the institutions that help make our society possible and push it forward.
    — Lindsey Witmer Collins, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Toronto’s Fred VanVleet appears to be the top target, but Miami’s Kyle Lowry, Utah’s Mike Conley and, perhaps to a lesser extent, Charlotte’s Terry Rozier have been linked to the team at various points.
    — Staff Writer Follow, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2023
Adjective
  • Such diagnoses can carry an extraordinarily poor neonatal prognosis.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Road accidents are frequent in Africa’s most populous country, in part due to poor road conditions and lax enforcement of traffic laws.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • There’s a wide array of options in this oddly-perfect elegant ballroom, along with a specialty chef that whips up a mean omelet before your eyes.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The releases buy time, but mean inventories are being consumed rather than rebuilt, making restocking a longer-term source of demand.
    — Matthew Tan, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Inferior.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inferior. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster