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

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 outstrip But analysts like Chong say China's rhetoric on free trade and multilateralism has outstripped its substantive actions. Jan Camenzind Broomby, NPR, 5 Sep. 2025 Since Schulman joined, the company has successfully stemmed the double-digit sales declines of the past year and outstripped growth expectations for the first fiscal quarter. Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2025 That’s partly because in the more than two years since, growth has consistently outstripped Wall Street’s projections, according to Richard Clode, portfolio manager at Janus Henderson. Bloomberg, Mercury News, 29 Aug. 2025 Even more important, the depth of cooperation between Ukraine and NATO now far outstrips the level Putin worried about before the war, precisely because of Russia’s invasion. Alexander Gabuev, Foreign Affairs, 26 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for outstrip
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outstrip
Verb
  • In 2024, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center received nearly 860,000 reports of scams, with potential losses exceeding $16 billion.
    Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 9 Sep. 2025
  • The tax break phases out for individuals with earnings exceeding $75,000 and for married couples with earnings above $150,000.
    Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Charlotte posted five different drives of eight plays or more, three of which surpassed 60 yards on the drive.
    Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 7 Sep. 2025
  • The total of 823 munitions made the attack Russia's largest to date, surpassing the 741 munitions reported by the air force on July 9.
    David Brennan, ABC News, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Although Asia is where the totality eclipsed moon will occur highest in the night sky, Europe gets a glimpse of totality shortly after moonrise.
    Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Golden State eclipsed the second-place Indiana Fever – a team that boasts superstar Caitlin Clark – in total attendance by over 48,000 fans.
    Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Over the past two seasons, the Swede has scored 44 goals in the Premier League, a tally bettered only by Salah and Erling Haaland with 47 and 49 respectively.
    Dan Cancian, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
  • But since his release, has worked to better the justice system, Johnson said.
    Drake Bentley, jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Outstrip.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outstrip. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on outstrip

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