superlative 1 of 2

adjective

su̇-ˈpər-lə-tiv How to pronounce superlative (audio)
Definition of superlativenext
as in excellent
of the very best kind the New England town meeting is a superlative example of grassroots democracy

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

superlative

2 of 2

noun

as in exaggeration

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 superlative
Adjective
Leica may be best known for making stills-only rangefinders, but that didn't stop it from loading the SL3-P up with a superlative video engine. — Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 25 June 2026 The president continues to make superlative statements about his health and negotiating abilities. — Catherine Lucey, Fortune, 13 June 2026
Noun
But Korda's surge in Southern California is her latest superlative in a year already featuring three wins, three second-place finishes and a spot atop the world rankings in her first seven starts. — ABC News, 6 June 2026 More state superlatives Munster senior outfielder Nate Southwell is leading the state with 45 RBIs. — Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 26 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for superlative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for superlative
  1. excellent
  2. exaggeration
  3. superb
  4. hyperbole
  5. wonderful
  6. magnification
  7. terrific
  8. elaboration
Adjective
  • The neighborhood/area Just across the train tracks is Vesterbro with an excellent range of independent shops and restaurants, not least in Kødbyen, the Meat Packing district.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026
  • As for dining options, Cafe Genevieve serves an excellent breakfast and brunch, and Million Dollar Cowboy Bar draws crowds for a taste of Western-style eats like bison burgers and elk sliders.
    — Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of excellent
Noun
  • That’s not an exaggeration, as Austin rents have been falling for several years.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2026
  • In her Tinker Bell costume, Ashley seems as thirsty for a peach as Shamea is, reveling in the opportunity to tell her side of the story but obviously sprinkling her own fairy dust of exaggeration into the narrative.
    — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 27 July 2026
Definition of exaggeration
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
Noun
  • Her legal team claims these allegations are false, and her comments are protected opinion or rhetorical hyperbole.
    — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 24 July 2026
  • A lot of that discourse, including what will be depicted as news in media stories about the negotiations, is noise and hyperbole.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of hyperbole
Adjective
  • The restaurant has two Michelin stars; there's also a daytime bistro and a wonderful bar worth spending a few hours in.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Aug. 2026
  • And like ginseng was supposed to be like this magical supplement that, like, improved health and memory and all sorts of wonderful things.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of wonderful
Noun
  • Those two eyepieces gave me roughly 33x and 65x magnification — enough for wide lunar views and tighter planetary shots.
    — Damian Peach, Space.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The update also adds some customization options to Widgets, a more precise magnification tool, and improved stability with certain Bluetooth devices.
    — Emma Roth, The Verge, 14 July 2026
Definition of magnification
Adjective
  • Spiridakos is terrific as the no-nonsense ranger who refuses to let herself be crushed by her past or present.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026
  • For 12 terrific seasons now, the New England Revolution has celebrated their partnership with Special Olympics Massachusetts and the incredible impact of the Rev's Unified Team.
    — Juli McDonald, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of terrific
Noun
  • Co-owner Gary Worden confirmed the report without much elaboration.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2026
  • Lodged among these fiery complaints, the declaration’s single grievance about taxation — unadorned by elaboration or explanation — seems almost tepid.
    — Joseph Thorndike, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Definition of elaboration

Browse Nearby Words

superjets
superlative
superlatively
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Superlative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/superlative. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on superlative

Nglish: Translation of superlative for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All