Synonyms of run circles around

run circles around

phrase

variants or run rings around

1

as in exceed

to be greater, better, or stronger than

When it came to cooking, he ran circles around the rest of his family.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lose (to)

2

as in blow away

to defeat by a large margin

The young girl ran circles around her chess opponent.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• blow away
• overcome
• bomb
• master
• snow under
• whip
• bury
• throw
• upset
• dust
• skin
• top
• paste
• cream
• wipe the floor with
• trim
• rout
• smoke
• eat alive
• beat
• beat the pants off
• shellac
• wax
• annihilate
• skunk
• flatten
• wallop
• take
• score
• win (against)
• smother
• exceed
• thrash
• overwhelm
• triumph (over)
• succeed
• destroy
• clobber
• sweep
• dispatch
• surpass
• trounce
• edge (out)
• cap
• prevail (over)
• drub
• conquer
• worst
• whop
• whup
• best
• better
• nose out
• whomp
• tromp
• slaughter
• hurdle
• crush
• finish
• lick
• knock off
• ace (out)
• knock over
• eclipse
• surmount
• overthrow
• subdue
• subjugate
• transcend
• vanquish
• excel
• outdo
• flourish
• outstrip
• overpower
• overmatch
• pip
• overbear
• overtop
• break
• do in
• outshine
• sink
• upend
• outdistance
• outfight

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of run circles around

Yet Grohl took it upon himself to be the official ambassador of rock ‘n’ roll, running circles around the stage during the nearly-three hour set, screaming, riffing and soloing away on 30-plus years of Foo Fighters hits. — William Earl, Variety, 14 Aug. 2026

In the humid heat, the students ran circles around each other. — Delia Rose Sauer, Miami Herald, 11 July 2026