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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Past research has shown that new closers have superior velocity and strikeout rate than their competitors, but unfortunately those metrics are in flux for Smith and Winn. — Eno Sarris, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026 The board wants to deliver superior products faster to stay competitive. — Nik Froehlich, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Noun

Employees go out for after-work parties (nomikai) to bond with their superiors. — Tim Brinkhof, Time, 23 July 2026 Jozef, still a seminarian who had entered the congregation and taken the name Damien only three years earlier, bypassed his immediate superiors and petitioned the higher orders in Paris to be allowed to take his place. — Literary Hub, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for superior

Recent Examples of Synonyms for superior

Adjective

Perhaps in the arrogant belief that a war with Iran would quickly end in a decisive victory, the Pentagon did not have cost-effective systems ready to intercept these weapons.

— Phillips Payson O’Brien, The Atlantic, 3 Aug. 2026
Nick Aldis’ wife Mickie James was ringside, where she was taunted by an arrogant Gunther.

— Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of arrogant

Adjective

Though Hallegua and Josephai rarely meet, both are intensely proud of their ancient heritage.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026
Spanish-speaking students and staff at Oak Lawn Community High School are proud of their heritage and will share it with the larger community during a festival that celebrates Hispanic food and culture.

— Janice Neumann, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of proud

Adjective

Albies is an excellent contact hitter, putting the bat on the ball, and driving the ball to the gaps.

— Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Located in the heart of the Marais, a restaurant at the Centre Pompidou would have to be pretty special to compete against all the excellent neighboring options.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of excellent

Adjective

At the end of the day, both conferences feature great fanbases, historic, iconic venues, outstanding crowd atmospheres and elite, blue blood programs.

— Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2026
Boasting an outstanding 57-hour battery life, plus a quick 5-minute charge that adds 3 hours of playtime, they are built to power through days of classes without needing an outlet.

— Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of outstanding

Adjective

Apple’s market dominance is built around September; moving away from tradition would upset the ecosystem supporting the launch and risk weakening the iPhone’s dominant position.

— Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
There have been plenty of dominant teams in the 150-plus-year history of college football, but few have left a bigger mark on the sport than the Miami Hurricanes did during the 1980s.

— Emile Nuh, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 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

Lee, so fine in a wide variety of roles from Past Lives to The Morning Show, is superb as a woman playing a role in life as well as piano bars.

— Pete Hammond, Deadline, 3 Aug. 2026
Hakai-hen’s mecha anime series lineup was also superb, with my beloved Dancouga included (shown below).

— Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of superb

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“Superior.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/superior. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of superior

adjective

noun

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