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falling short of a standard an inferior science textbook that was out-of-date the day that it was published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
Across state and federal lands, accommodations designated for Black Americans were routinely and nakedly inferior, relegated to remote, underdeveloped parcels or mosquito-prone swamplands. Kimmie Gordon, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026 But those three road losses were either in the postseason to a top-two team, at Oregon or the inexplicable 2024 loss to a far inferior Michigan team in The Game. Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inferior
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inferior
Noun
  • Many Hindus today identify as Shaivas, Vaishnavas, or Shaktas, sectarian groups that, respectively, worship Shiva, Vishnu, or Shakti as supreme, with all other deities considered as manifestations or subordinates.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The judge found that the three did, in fact, violate the charter, which states that council members may not interfere with appointments or removals in the city manager’s office, or give orders to the city manager’s subordinates.
    Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 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
  • Steppach, 49, was the owner of Tim’s Tavern on Edison Avenue, where people protested daily in December after Steppach pleaded no contest to three misdemeanor counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor.
    Grant Lancaster, Arkansas Online, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The anger fueled the rise of Sanseito, a minor right-wing party that rallied against immigrants in recent elections, putting pressure on the ruling Liberal Democratic Party government.
    Christine Miyawaki, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Bonnell Bonnell isn’t the first to come to the electric off-road motorcycle arena, but its strategy is to differentiate itself through integration, adjustability and relatively low weight rather than simply trying to win the horsepower spreadsheet.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2026
  • In a footnote to his dissent, Roberts wrote that the underground work on the project – which lower courts had allowed to proceed – addressed the government’s security concerns.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • That explanation, which was given to Quatraro on the field, clearly was unacceptable to the Royals manager.
    Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Both noted that any sort of political violence is unacceptable.
    Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Sep. 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
  • Dozens of companies have withdrawn over the past decades due to poor profits, an uncertain business outlook and concerns about harm to their reputations from making arms, especially lethal weapons.
    Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Along the way, the audience can expect tons of humiliation, terrible second prizes, and the guarantee that Robertson will turn at least one poor soul's wrong turn into several minutes of unhinged public destruction.
    Rebecca Rosman, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • England, Wales and Northern Ireland all set records for mean summer temperatures, though Scotland, which was cooler and less dry, tied its sixth warmest summer.
    ABC News, ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Line Islands corals show a similar mean increase but far wider scatter, which the researchers partly attribute to these records’ reliance on oxygen isotopes alone.
    Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Inferior.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inferior. Accessed 4 Sep. 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