inferior 1 of 2

noun

Definition of inferiornext
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

inferior

2 of 2

adjective

in-ˈfir-ē-ər How to pronounce inferior (audio)
1
as in lower
situated lower down creatures that inhabit the dark, inferior depths of the ocean

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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falling short of a standard an inferior science textbook that was out-of-date the day that it was published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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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
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
Brain MRIs also found an increase in the surface area of the inferior frontal gyrus in the MIND diet group. — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 25 July 2026 Speaking of the interior, the cabin is in no way inferior to the exterior, crafted with high-end materials such as carbon fiber, suede-like upholstery, and metallic accents. — New Atlas, 25 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for inferior
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inferior
  1. subordinate
  2. lower
  3. minor
  4. low
  5. unacceptable
  6. lesser
  7. poor
  8. mean
Noun
  • Putin has also protected his direct allies while not extending any such shield to younger subordinates.
    — Julian G. Waller, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Whether peer-to-peer, superior-to-subordinate, or subordinate-to-superior, there has to be trust.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of subordinate
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
Definition of lower
Adjective
  • Many higher education institutions have started offering classes focused on the burgeoning content creation industry over the past couple years, and several have certificate or minor programs.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • On Friday, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported two identical incidents of drone strikes on tankers in Hormuz a day earlier, causing minor damage but no casualties.
    — Frank Andrews, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of minor
Adjective
  • Although the market has adapted and prices have remained relatively low considering the historic supply shock during the war, that’s in large part because demand for oil collapsed and China drew down its massive oil stockpiles.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
  • His velocity has continued to sink lower than his average speed in past seasons.
    — Johnny Flores Jr, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of low
Adjective
  • Still, only 28% of readers said that AI use is unacceptable in all of the circumstances presented by the survey.
    — Cameron Pugh, Christian Science Monitor, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Intervene Intervene means several signals—or one sufficiently consequential event—indicate probable deterioration or unacceptable outcomes.
    — Gerald J. Leonard, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of 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.
    — 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
Definition of lesser
Adjective
  • But tensions have opened up between data center boosters and some community organizations that want to see more jobs and economic benefits go to local residents, especially predominantly poor Hispanic farm and food processing workers.
    — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Conventional wisdom usually attributes those failures to changing markets, disruptive competitors, or poor leadership.
    — Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of poor
Adjective
  • Expanding the Emmys’ parameters would not only increase the mean quality of nominated work but also bring attention to great stuff flying under the radar.
    — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Generally, studies on heat extremes work with some combination of daily minimum, maximum, and mean temperatures.
    — Scott K. Johnson, ArsTechnica, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of mean

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inferential
inferior
inferiority
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Cite this Entry

“Inferior.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inferior. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of inferior for Spanish Speakers

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