Synonyms of outstrip

outstrip

verb

ˌau̇t-ˈstrip 

as in to exceed

to be greater, better, or stronger than

before he had reached his teens, the child prodigy had outstripped his music teacher's abilities

Synonyms & Similar Words

• exceed
• surpass
• eclipse
• better
• top
• outdo
• outdistance
• transcend
• outshine
• excel
• beat
• outmatch
• outclass
• outpace
• overcome
• overtop
• overshadow
• outgun
• tower (over)
• master
• outweigh
• outrun
• defeat
• go one better
• best
• surmount
• run circles around
• worst
• one-up
• outperform
• subdue
• conquer
• outcompete
• outrace
• win (against)
• prevail (over)
• trump
• triumph (over)
• rout
• clobber
• lick
• trounce
• shame
• crush
• trim
• overmatch
• whip
• thrash
• overbear
• overpass
• outbalance
• drub
• wallop
• skunk

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lose (to)

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb outstrip contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of outstrip are exceed, excel, outdo, surpass, and transcend. While all these words mean "to go or be beyond a stated or implied limit, measure, or degree," outstrip suggests surpassing in a race or competition.

outstripped other firms in sales

When is exceed a more appropriate choice than outstrip?

Although the words exceed and outstrip have much in common, exceed implies going beyond a limit set by authority or established by custom or by prior achievement.

exceed the speed limit

When would excel be a good substitute for outstrip?

In some situations, the words excel and outstrip are roughly equivalent. However, excel implies preeminence in achievement or quality and may suggest superiority to all others.

excels in mathematics

Where would outdo be a reasonable alternative to outstrip?

While the synonyms outdo and outstrip are close in meaning, outdo applies to a bettering or exceeding what has been done before.

outdid herself this time

When might surpass be a better fit than outstrip?

The meanings of surpass and outstrip largely overlap; however, surpass suggests superiority in quality, merit, or skill.

the book surpassed our expectations

When can transcend be used instead of outstrip?

The words transcend and outstrip can be used in similar contexts, but transcend implies a rising or extending notably above or beyond ordinary limits.

transcended the values of their culture

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of outstrip

While that distribution model has remained unchanged since Blazy’s arrival, the process has come under growing scrutiny as demand for key runway looks often outstrips supply. — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026

The deal would easily make Guevara the costliest single police scandal in Chicago history, outstripping the around $210 million spent so far on cases against former Cmdr. — Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026

Sentence lengths have increased in that time, keeping people behind bars for longer and outstripping the number of new prisons being built, even as overall crime rates have fallen during the last decade. — Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026

The sticker price also excludes the follow-up imaging, specialist visits and biopsies that incidental findings often trigger, expenses that can quickly outstrip the original scan. — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Sep. 2026