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 For example, the 2025 Stanford AI Index Report highlights that AI capabilities — generative AI, in particular — have already accelerated dramatically, outstripping some previous forecasts. Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 4 June 2025 The company is actively striving to diversify its revenue sources; however, the swift decline in COVID-19 vaccine sales has outstripped its ability to quickly compensate for these losses, resulting in the significant fall in its stock price. Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025 The stock has dropped 2% so far this year, outstripped by the S&P 500′s gains of more than 1%. Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 5 June 2025 Elon Musk outstripped all other political donors in the 2024 election cycle, contributing around $292 million to political causes. Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for outstrip
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outstrip
Verb
  • That deal could have reached as high as £89m (€100m) were subsequent clauses met; the amounts guaranteed on the sale of Wirtz have already exceeded that figure.
    Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 21 June 2025
  • Annual interest payments now already exceed $1 trillion, and JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon has called it a red flag.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
Verb
  • Bespoke Investment Group calculates that the S & P 500's average performance on days after a daily decline is the highest in at least 33 years, narrowly surpassing the 2020 average.
    Michael Santoli, CNBC, 14 June 2025
  • The death toll was surpassed the following year when a gunman killed 60 people and injured 850 more in Las Vegas.
    Skyler Swisher, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 June 2025
Verb
  • But the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office this week pegged that growth at just 0.5 percent of GDP over a decade, which higher borrowing costs would eclipse to the tune of $2.8 trillion.
    Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 20 June 2025
  • For the first time, streaming services have eclipsed traditional television in overall U.S. TV viewership, according to a Nielsen report released Tuesday.
    Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2025
Verb
  • Among all attacking midfielders in La Liga, Williams completed 112 high turnovers, a figure bettered only by… Raphinha and Yamal.
    Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 20 June 2025
  • There is one place where F1 deviates from standard tropes and betters itself in the process.
    Scott Phillips, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Outstrip.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outstrip. Accessed 29 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on outstrip

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!