preeminence

noun

prē-ˈe-mə-nən(t)s How to pronounce preeminence (audio)
Definition of preeminencenext
1
as in excellence
exceptionally high quality the restaurant is known for the preeminence of its seafood dishes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dominance
controlling power or influence over others some historians contended that no nation had attained such undisputed preeminence since the glory days of the Roman Empire

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in superiority
the fact or state of being above others in rank or importance his preeminence in the field of obstetrics

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 preeminence His long, productive career encompassed more than six decades, in each of which his live performances and recordings continually attested to his preeminence as one of jazz history’s most vital, innovative and influential artists. — Don Heckman, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2026 Still, due to such limitations, the rights of proxies do not have the same ethical preeminence as real autonomy exercised by an individual herself or himself. — Adam W. Gaffney, STAT, 18 May 2026 Roshanara was elevated when Aurangzeb claimed the throne but had to relinquish her preeminence on her sister’s restoration. — Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Mar. 2026 The 1992 campaign that represented the emerging preeminence of the Baby Boom generation was the same one dogged by rumors of an affair with Gennifer Flowers. — ABC News, 25 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for preeminence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preeminence
  1. excellence
  2. dominance
  3. superiority
  4. excellency
  5. supremacy
  6. distinction
  7. dominion
  8. reputation
Noun
  • The annual awards recognize podcasts and creators shaping the future of audio through innovation, impact and excellence in storytelling.
    — AJC Communications, AJC.com, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Former President Barack Obama has offered a similar perspective, arguing that excellence often requires periods of intense focus at the expense of other priorities.
    — Preston Fore, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of excellence
Noun
  • Conventional analysis treats chip dominance as a source of instability.
    — Ningrong Liu, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Vying for dominance as well are the haughty, self-serving bureaucrats of the area’s bustling capital of South Wood (Jemaine Clement, Marc Evan Jackson), who pull their political strings from the relative safety of the grand Pittock Mansion.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of dominance
Noun
  • Tampa Bay used clear superiority in its starting rotation, bullpen and late-series offense to eliminate Cleveland.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Oct. 2026
  • If military superiority alone could end wars, then Afghanistan and Iraq would have been relatively easy American wins.
    — Anna Mulrine Grobe, Christian Science Monitor, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of superiority
Noun
  • Education was considered an individual pursuit marked by moral excellency and only the students who did the best in school would have proceeded to higher education.
    — Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 12 Nov. 2024
  • Paradise Dynasty, Kang Kang, Long Xing Ji, Hui Tou Xiang, Min Min Pie House (and so many more) should all be household names worthy of recognition for their myriad styles and excellency.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2024
Definition of excellency
Noun
  • Shifting coalitions When the Haredi parties exited Netanyahu’s coalition, Likud replaced them with nationalist parties that emphasize the state and Jewish supremacy.
    — Hannah Ridge, The Conversation, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Gavin Newsom’s legislative minions just got a lesson in constitutional supremacy.
    — , FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of supremacy
Noun
  • That distinction shows both the opportunity for American technology and the limits imposed by remaining dependencies.
    — Margot Edelman, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The city institution, which artistic director Robert Drake describes as Georgia's longest-running theater, also holds the distinction of being the first professional theater to integrate both its casts and audience in the southeastern United States.
    — La'Tasha Givens, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of distinction
Noun
  • In the past, the principal solvent of Europe’s imperial dominions was the growing reluctance of people in the metropole to bear the financial and military burden.
    — NIALL FERGUSON, Foreign Affairs, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Faced with the dominion of the identical copy, some modern artists chose to celebrate it; others took a more critical, even antagonistic stance.
    — Mario Carpo, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of dominion
Noun
  • This is where reputation and communications become part of the business decisions.
    — Margot Edelman, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Rather than replicating the formula of an international luxury chain, Elegance has built its reputation on intimate hotels that celebrate Vietnamese hospitality, thoughtful design, and sense of place.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of reputation

Browse Nearby Words

preemies
preeminence
preeminences
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Preeminence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preeminence. Accessed 25 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of emissary

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 23

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All