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
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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
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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
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4
as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard
an inferior science textbook that was out-of-date the day that it was published
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5
as in lesser
having not so great importance or rank as another
an inferior officer cannot strike a superior under any circumstances
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6
as in poor
of low quality
inferior chocolate candy that no serious chocolate lover would think of eating
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inferior
Julie Hinds, Freep.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Women are greedy, untrustworthy, weak and inferior, these influencers say.
—Will Carless, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
The adjustment came after multiple women complained in 2022 about hitting inferior products, the Associated Press reported.
—Skyler Caruso, People.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Such a tragedy should never have happened in the happy, harmonious society that Xi claims to have created, free of the violence and divisions that plague other, inferior countries.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inferior
Adjective
Rewatching is its own cultural activity, not necessarily inferior or redundant.
—Julie Hinds, Freep.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Women are greedy, untrustworthy, weak and inferior, these influencers say.
—Will Carless, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
The adjustment came after multiple women complained in 2022 about hitting inferior products, the Associated Press reported.
—Skyler Caruso, People.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Such a tragedy should never have happened in the happy, harmonious society that Xi claims to have created, free of the violence and divisions that plague other, inferior countries.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inferior
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inferior
Noun
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In pursuing first the transport minister’s former subordinates and then the man himself, Putin was deploying a strategy that has also been seen elsewhere, including at the defense ministry.—
ANDREI KOLESNIKOV,
Foreign Affairs,
8 Sep. 2025
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Participants would complete a physical fitness test, have their body fat measured, undergo a psychological evaluation, receive leadership evaluations from former peers and subordinates, and complete verbal and written communication assessments.—
Davis Winkie,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
Lower gas demand amid increasing supply has led to lower pump prices.—
Frank Witsil,
Detroit Free Press,
19 June 2023
Adjective
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The two had a minor pull-apart but Adam Pearce screamed it down.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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The compound 7-OH is a naturally occurring substance in the kratom plant (Mitragyna speciosa), according to the FDA, but only a minor component, less than 2%, of the alkaloid content in natural kratom leaves.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The report said that water storage in Washington’s five reservoirs in the Yakima River Basin has dropped sharply, bringing levels, at times, to some of the lowest measured since record-keeping started in 1971.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
-
The ultra-low-cost model clearly isn't providing customer satisfaction, even if the fares look cheap.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
This vile, heartless remark is completely unacceptable—especially from someone entrusted with our children.—
Amy DeLaura,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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What constitutes an unacceptable season for the Yankees these days, and how much does Boone bear responsibility when the team doesn't perform up to those standards?—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
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Cutting carbs entirely can raise the risk of cholesterol, kidney stones, poor bone health, gut problems, and even cancer, added Stefanki.—
Caitlin Pagán,
Verywell Health,
11 Sep. 2025
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Before Wednesday’s game, people within the organization were optimistic about Helsley putting his tipping problem and overall poor pitching behind him, pointing to a clean inning Monday.—
Will Sammon,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Not even Chris Hargensen, the organizer of Carrie’s prom-night humiliation, the meanest of all mean girls, could have thought up something so diabolical.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
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The messages, dozens of which were sent every day and attacked the teen’s relationship, looks, intelligence, clothing and behavior, were originally thought to be a mean spirited prank orchestrated by one of their high school classmates.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inferior.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inferior. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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