as in subordinate
one who is of lower rank and typically under the authority of another
she is nice to her inferiors as well as to her superiors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in lower
situated lower down
creatures that inhabit the dark, inferior depths of the ocean
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in minor
of little or less value or merit
a girl who has always felt inferior to her older sister
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in low
belonging to the class of people of low social or economic rank
at one time, the upper crust liked to believe that inferior people were fit only to be servants
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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an inferior science textbook that was out-of-date the day that it was published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
as in lesser
having not so great importance or rank as another
an inferior officer cannot strike a superior under any circumstances
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in poor
of low quality
inferior chocolate candy that no serious chocolate lover would think of eating
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 inferior
Lisa Deaderick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
Matthew Buzzi,
PC Magazine,
14 June 2026
People mock Americans for using the word because the rest of the world likes a chance to make the superpower feel inferior.
—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for inferior
Noun
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
That makes for a more compelling value proposition, useful in daily life, versus a more specialized machine with inferior performance.
—
Matthew Buzzi,
PC Magazine,
14 June 2026
People mock Americans for using the word because the rest of the world likes a chance to make the superpower feel inferior.
—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for inferior
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inferior
Noun
-
In April 2025, Vaden allegedly received an anonymous letter at her home bearing the Elk Grove Police Department’s return address that discussed Davis’ relationship with the subordinate.
-
In theory, a ceasefire would see the central government reassert more direct control of their subordinates, although concerns about assassinations might discourage them for rebuilding their electronic command and control systems, making that more difficult.
Adjective
-
And ultimately, the Supreme Court overruled those lower court rulings and did declare the embryos as children qualifying under the wrongful death statute.
-
Lower gas demand amid increasing supply has led to lower pump prices.
Adjective
-
Messi had been dealing with a minor hamstring injury with Inter Miami that slowed him in the lead-up to the World Cup.
-
Nearly four-fifths of respondents said that gas prices present some sort of strain, with 34% categorizing it as a major strain and 44% calling it a minor strain.
Adjective
-
Those groups also have lower access to drugs that can stop the transmission of HIV.
-
Last winter was the second-warmest on record, according to the city’s ordinance, with record low snowpack almost everywhere.
Adjective
-
If scar tissue is too severe, if prior surgeries have left the blood supply compromised, or if a patient's goals aren't achievable without unacceptable risk, proceeding could cause irreversible damage.
-
Yes, Stokes’ late night out, in the context of what went on before, was unacceptable.
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.
Adjective
-
Because of that, these hands suffer from high production costs, poor durability against impacts, short operational lifespans, and there are no existing solutions that engineers can readily draw upon, Wang added.
-
The extreme heat can also affect people who are physically ill, especially those with heart disease or high blood pressure, or who take certain medications, such as for depression, insomnia, or poor circulation.
Adjective
-
The quartet eventually broke America with later albums, but Arctic Monkeys songs were faster, funnier, and meaner in 2006.
-
Chen noted that the FDA approval was based on a single clinical trial with a mean participant age of 47, and nearly 74% of participants were women.
Cite this Entry
“Inferior.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inferior. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
