as in bosses
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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Recent Examples of superiors
With the North Koreans and the Chinese military bearing down on Incheon in 1951, Casillas was ordered by his superiors to destroy all vital structures in Incheon to keep the infrastructure from falling into enemy hands.
—
Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2026
Abts sent an email to his superiors, and a human resources supervisor, about Husband’s disturbing, uncharacteristic behavior.
—Dan Eaton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 2026
Investigations, reviews and outside probes In the midst of the overpayment debate, the unemployment insurance division devolved into a series of investigations, reviews of those investigations and spiraling distrust between staff and superiors, labor department documents obtained by The Post show.
—Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 31 May 2026
Where Krick is busy grandstanding, the darling of his men and superiors, the ever unpopular Stagg urges caution.
—Daniel Jonah Wolpert, NPR, 29 May 2026
Marriott said the opposition appeared to be the final straw for his superiors, who informed staff that the department would shift the responsibilities of captains.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 29 May 2026
This minimalist response, especially from superiors, can inadvertently signal status and disengagement, forcing employees to interpret its true meaning.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
Time now to forge a united front that can make life tough for NFC West superiors in Seattle and Los Angeles.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 27 May 2026
Brown’s team submitted an affidavit to superiors at the DOJ that did not make a strong enough case to move forward with what Olsen wanted.
—ProPublica, 1 May 2026
Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2026
Abts sent an email to his superiors, and a human resources supervisor, about Husband’s disturbing, uncharacteristic behavior.
—Dan Eaton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 2026
Investigations, reviews and outside probes In the midst of the overpayment debate, the unemployment insurance division devolved into a series of investigations, reviews of those investigations and spiraling distrust between staff and superiors, labor department documents obtained by The Post show.
—Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 31 May 2026
Where Krick is busy grandstanding, the darling of his men and superiors, the ever unpopular Stagg urges caution.
—Daniel Jonah Wolpert, NPR, 29 May 2026
Marriott said the opposition appeared to be the final straw for his superiors, who informed staff that the department would shift the responsibilities of captains.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 29 May 2026
This minimalist response, especially from superiors, can inadvertently signal status and disengagement, forcing employees to interpret its true meaning.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
Time now to forge a united front that can make life tough for NFC West superiors in Seattle and Los Angeles.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 27 May 2026
Brown’s team submitted an affidavit to superiors at the DOJ that did not make a strong enough case to move forward with what Olsen wanted.
—ProPublica, 1 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for superiors
Noun
-
Above the factory floor, the big bosses determined our production goals for the day, as usual.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
-
Fortunately, discussions with bosses and authority figures will go well.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
7 June 2026
Noun
-
The workforce’s youngest cohort has been labeled lazy, entitled, and unrelentingly pessimistic by their elders.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
8 June 2026
-
Sensing this once-great dynasty is in decline, the outback’s most powerful factions — rival cattle barons, desert gangsters, Indigenous elders, and billionaire miners — move in for the kill, with billions of dollars at stake.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Investigating active government officials in Mexico is a new strategy for the United States, which in the past refrained from targeting sitting leaders in allied countries with criminal investigations because of the clear political ramifications.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
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Beyond their immediate impact, experts say such attacks are part of a broader Russian strategy to sow fear among ordinary people and increase public pressure on Ukraine’s leaders to end the war.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
Noun
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Utterback, who’d just gotten married and bought a house in Omaha, instead devoted himself to learning on his own, poring over books, making regular trips to Japan, and befriending masters of the craft.—
Hannah Goldfield,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
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For decades, sanctions, shortages and limited imports forced Cuban mechanics to become masters of improvisation.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Superiors.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/superiors. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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