SUPERIOR Synonyms: 332 Similar and Opposite Words

superior 1 of 2

adjective

su̇-ˈpir-ē-ər

Definition of superior

as in arrogant

having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude that superior sportscaster lets it be known that he thinks all foreign baseball teams are second-rate

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in proud

having or displaying feelings of scorn for what is regarded as beneath oneself the superior attitude of the store owner's son drove the other employees crazy

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in excellent

of the very best kind a five-star restaurant known for its superior wine list

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in outstanding

standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement a university known for attracting superior scientists and mathematicians

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

superior

2 of 2

noun

as in boss

one who is above another in rank, station, or office if a customer is rude to you, report it to your superior and she'll handle it

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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 superior

Adjective

For more options and generally superior performance, check out the Asus ProArt PX13, which remains our Editors' Choice winner for convertible 2-in-1 laptops. — Marshall Honorof, PC Magazine, 7 Nov. 2026 West Elm European Flax Linen Round Pillow Some throw pillow shapes—namely ones that can do double duty as floor cushions when the occasion rises—are just superior, in our opinion. — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 5 Nov. 2026

Noun

But after Dougan raised the concerns, the lawsuit says, his superiors took disciplinary action against him. — Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2026 Throughout the film, Agent Miller refuses to abandon the investigation, even after being discouraged from following the case by her superiors who felt as though there wasn’t enough evidence pointing to Kaczynski. — Jane Lacroix, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for superior

Recent Examples of Synonyms for superior

Adjective

Except Moe is nice, caring, and talented, while Matt is arrogant, unpleasant, and, at the beginning of the episode, belligerently drunk.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2026
El-Sayed didn’t win himself any favors with an arrogant acceptance speech delivered without a shred of grace.

— Kaitlyn Buss, Boston Herald, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of arrogant

Adjective

Sacramento are proud to partner with United Way for the Season of Giving, helping make the holidays brighter for families across the community.

— CBS News, CBS News, 10 Nov. 2026
As the Cowboys try to figure out how to maintain some sort of stability this season with their 4-5 record, there are a mountain of issues to correct, but there are also things to build with and be proud of.

— Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Nov. 2026

Definition of proud

Adjective

Bold from brown butter and balsamic vinegar and bright from lemon, the crunchy topping is an excellent foil to the sweetness of roasted squash.

— Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Nov. 2026
Their bench even has some guys providing excellent backup options.

— David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of excellent

Noun

But snakes gonna slither, so Vance (who, to be fair, was never that into this war) is using the moment to subtly blame Hegseth, and the blow seems to have landed, with his party, and with his boss.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
This time, however, the boss breaking the bad news is played by Dunham herself.

— Alison Herman, Variety, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of boss

Adjective

But Scudder wasn’t feeling so cavalier in the Texas Panhandle, the rural, northernmost part of the state, which is among the most conservative places in the country.

— Jesús Rodríguez, New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2026
What makes this emptiness more bothersome is the cavalier way Wingard wields the imagery of rogue, militarized killers wreaking havoc on the American landscape.

— Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of cavalier

Adjective

Those hiding from family this Thanksgiving can take solace in a cornucopia of superb TV offerings.

— David Faris, TheWeek, 6 Nov. 2026
Throughout, there’s a lingering sadness, which is properly explored in a superb episode made up of a trifecta of flashbacks, and his dour constitution still pairs perfectly with Helen’s reassuring nature.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of superb

Adjective

As previously reported, Cezary Skubiszewski was feted with the distinguished services to the Australian screen award, in recognition of his impressive body of work spanning more than 30 years.

— Lars Brandle, Billboard, 29 Oct. 2026
Dan Lipinski is a former Democratic congressman from Illinois and a distinguished visiting fellow for the Center for Revitalizing American Institutions at the Hoover Institution.

— Dan Lipinski, Baltimore Sun, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of distinguished

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Style

“Superior.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/superior. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of superior

adjective

noun

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