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
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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
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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an inferior science textbook that was out-of-date the day that it was published
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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
Cam Inman, Mercury News, 17 Oct. 2025
Without supplemental carbs, then, clear protein may be an inferior option to more traditional shakes.
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 13 Oct. 2025
This defeat was closer than the other losses to Texas, but once again, Oklahoma looked like the inferior team.
—Chris Vannini, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
Intel’s chip factories are considered inferior to TSMCs.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inferior
Adjective
An inferior pass rush impacts that.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 17 Oct. 2025
Without supplemental carbs, then, clear protein may be an inferior option to more traditional shakes.
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 13 Oct. 2025
This defeat was closer than the other losses to Texas, but once again, Oklahoma looked like the inferior team.
—Chris Vannini, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
Intel’s chip factories are considered inferior to TSMCs.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inferior
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inferior
Noun
-
The Charges The obstruction charge centers on allegations that Comey directed subordinates to remove or conceal those memos from FBI systems after his dismissal in May 2017, actions prosecutors claim impeded a lawful investigation into the unauthorized disclosure of classified material.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
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After his chief of staff Thomas Cook was forced to resign for having a relationship with a subordinate, that subordinate received a promotion and often sat at the table opposite Cook negotiating key economic development deals between the city and private clients Cook represented.—
Kayla Dwyer,
IndyStar,
17 Oct. 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
-
Curing or drying potatoes thickens their skins, allows minor cuts and abrasions to heal, and makes spuds less likely to rot or shrivel in storage.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Prisoners are not allowed to keep money behind bars, but cash can be provided by family members to a commissary fund used to buy food, toiletries and other minor needs, according to the Prison Fellowship.—
Mark Price,
Miami Herald,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The organization’s Green Heart Project, which studies the impact of better air quality on heart disease through urban greening, has found that increasing the number of trees and shrubs in an area can create lower levels of a blood marker associated with inflammation.—
Maggie Menderski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
26 Oct. 2025
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Here is Carreras profiting from that exact ploy while playing for Benfica against Barcelona in the Champions League last season, sneaking forward on the far side before receiving the switch and hammering a low cross into striker Vangelis Pavlidis to score.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Denying people the essentials necessary for their survival, to obtain compliance or a political agreement, should be unacceptable.—
Anna Halford,
Time,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Controversy arose earlier this year after residents, a council member and the mayor declared a cooling station set up for homeless residents and others without adequate heating and cooling as unacceptable.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Oct. 2025
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
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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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There’s another element of the current concern regarding due process that relates to the fate of poor Cinna.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
23 Oct. 2025
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McDaniel’s debut album Lost Ones delves into his own story of growing up in a poor community in Kentucky, and dealing with mental health struggles, both personally and within his family — as well as McDaniel’s story of being saved during a past suicide attempt years ago.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Corddry will play Diaz’s mean boss at a book store, while Duplass plays a nice guy, potential romantic interest.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Your goal isn’t to convince your husband his kids are mean.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Denver Post,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inferior.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inferior. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.
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