1
as in excellence
exceptionally high quality
the restaurant is known for the preeminence of its seafood dishes
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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
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3
as in superiority
the fact or state of being above others in rank or importance
his preeminence in the field of obstetrics
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Recent Examples of preeminence
Sopranos Michelle Allie Drever and Alaysha Fox give us a sample of Mozart’s operatic preeminence.
—
Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
There’s no reason, given Chicago’s clear preeminence among Midwestern cities and an abundance of infrastructure and natural resources, that Illinois shouldn’t be leading the charge.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Together with its other untapped resources, this presents yet another attractive trait to any suitor in pursuit of technological and industrial preeminence.
—Chloe Demrovsky, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
But these strengths have faded, and with them, the sense that American preeminence is a fact of nature.
—Zongyuan Zoe Liu, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preeminence
Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
There’s no reason, given Chicago’s clear preeminence among Midwestern cities and an abundance of infrastructure and natural resources, that Illinois shouldn’t be leading the charge.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Together with its other untapped resources, this presents yet another attractive trait to any suitor in pursuit of technological and industrial preeminence.
—Chloe Demrovsky, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
But these strengths have faded, and with them, the sense that American preeminence is a fact of nature.
—Zongyuan Zoe Liu, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preeminence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preeminence
Noun
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The appointment recognizes academic excellence and fosters international collaboration through short-term exchange programs, a release said.—
Post-Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The Nuggets are no longer measured by excellence, but effort.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Washington is trying to reduce China’s dominance over critical mineral supply chains.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Denver had a hot start in the first half, with attacking duo Melissa Kössler and Natasha Flint continuing their dominance this season and scoring in the 16th and 32nd minutes, respectively.—
Melanie Anzidei,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There are those who once thought that the superiority of machines would cause a crisis for chess—and for humanity.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Piech wanted to show off the superiority of VW Group’s engineering.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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
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Zurich said the Game Changer Award pays tribute to excellency in the film business with a focus on leaders that not only cherish change and forward-thinking approaches in the business, but also stand for the DNA of what cinema has represented since its invention.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
10 Sep. 2024
Noun
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Until 2022, there had been no challenge to the Tour’s supremacy and there was no incentive to innovate.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The battle was fought during the Napoleonic Wars, as Britain attacked Denmark to break a neutral alliance with other European powers that threatened British naval supremacy.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Among its many distinctions, SPLC is known for bankrupting the Ku Klux Klan.—
Clarence Page,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
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The distinction between users and professionals is sometimes clear and other times not so obvious.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This was clearly outside the purview of the colonizer, who saw land as a resource held under his dominion.—
Tim Brinkhof,
JSTOR Daily,
22 Apr. 2026
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For China, bringing Taiwan under its dominion would break through that barrier and expand its military reach.—
Wayne Chang,
CNN Money,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
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London has carved out a global reputation for fintech, combining regulatory sophistication with access to capital, talent and a dense network of financial institutions.—
Melissa Jun Rowley,
Rolling Stone,
29 Apr. 2026
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Turkey has built a reputation in dental tourism, offering treatment plans that are often paired with travel support.—
Wyles Daniel,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preeminence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preeminence. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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