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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as in outstanding

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

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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

There are good footballers, there are great footballers and then there is Messi, who plays as if he has been sent here from another dimension, a superior life form inside the 5ft 7in frame of a normal guy from Rosario, Argentina. — Oliver Kay, New York Times, 19 July 2026 Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, a former right back who played alongside Messi in the 2006 World Cup, solved that problem by moving Messi to right wing, tweaking formations and pulling from a bench superior to England’s. — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 2026

Noun

The president watched Israel assassinate his colleagues and superiors, faced accusations by ultra-conservative hardline politicians of compliance with Iran’s archenemy, the United States, and even oversaw a massive crackdown on protests. — Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 12 June 2026 Gradually, Nawal skirts the limits of her job and begins her own investigation, entering spaces and conversations her male superiors either can’t, or might not think to. — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 8 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for superior

Recent Examples of Synonyms for superior

Adjective

Odysseus is a complex character known for being brilliant and crafty, but also being somewhat of an arrogant trickster.

— Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026
Under normal conditions, someone who’s bossy or pushy can come across as arrogant and annoying.

— Matthew Pittman, The Conversation, 17 July 2026

Definition of arrogant

Adjective

The roofline leaves enough headroom for actual adults, the cargo area is genuinely useful, and visibility remains excellent.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 20 July 2026
City Colleges of Chicago, the University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago State University and National Louis University, among others, have built their reputations on the premise that everyone deserves access to an excellent education.

— Andrea Sáenz, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2026

Definition of excellent

Adjective

Cole, meantime, is truly enormous — a legit 6-3, 235 with outstanding length and speed for his size.

— Nick Baumgardner, New York Times, 22 July 2026
The same caution applies to joint credit cards, where closing the account may require paying off the outstanding balance first.

— Ashley Lynch July 22, Charlotte Observer, 22 July 2026

Definition of outstanding

Noun

His boss agreed, according to the lawsuit, so Swinehart asked an employee who worked under him to figure out if the family would be interested in that.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2026
McClair, a scurrying cerebral Glaswegian signed from Celtic and one of the few players to outsmart his boss Sir Alex Ferguson, had become the first in 20 years, since Best, to score 20 league goals for United.

— Andy Mitten, New York Times, 17 July 2026

Definition of boss

Adjective

Here was a team that played a beautiful, dominant style of soccer that enthralled the world and stymied opponents on its way to the World Cup final.

— Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
Tarik Skubal pitched seven dominant innings, Spencer Torkelson homered twice and drove in four runs, and the Detroit Tigers cruised to a 7-0 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday night.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 July 2026

Definition of dominant

Adjective

Historian Sandgruber describes how Alois Hitler wrote his 1895 letters in a deeply smug, anti-clerical manner that overestimated his abilities.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 June 2026
Li at times plays Cola with a smug impetuousness that belies her naivety about this world to a satisfying degree.

— Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 17 June 2026

Definition of smug

Adjective

There are some superb central defenders who have not made our list, which just highlights the level Vidic reached.

— Andy Mitten, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Small is a superb route runner, while Everhart is the type of athlete who can turn a jet sweep or bubble screen into a chunk play.

— Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 July 2026

Definition of superb

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Style

“Superior.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/superior. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of superior

adjective

noun

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