as in extra
being over what is needed
a third, supernumerary witness to the signing of the will
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in walk-on
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 supernumerary
David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025
That’s quite a bit of digitalization for a car that proudly clings to such a traditionalist trope as a supernumerary cylinder count; even Ferrari’s new range-topping, $3.9 million F80 hybrid sports only six cylinders.
—Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 25 Feb. 2025
Victoria Petrovich’s set was minimal but useful, but some of Rosie Glen-Lambert’s direction struck me as wrong-headed, nowhere more so than in a supernumerary robot’s contemplation of male reproductive parts.
—Christian Hertzog, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 June 2024
The supernumerary robotic leg is more autonomous, able to assist with several different human gaits at a brisk walk and add as much as 84 watts of power.
—Evan Ackerman, IEEE Spectrum, 28 Dec. 2020
Biopsy and excision of this mass confirmed the presence of a functional supernumerary nipple.
—Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 5 May 2017
Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 30 Mar. 2023
One of West Hartford’s earlier patrol officers, Martin McCue, started as a part-time supernumerary in 1929 and became a full-time officer a year later.
—Don Stacom, courant.com, 12 Nov. 2020
As reported by ITV News, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and King Felipe VI of Spain are being invested as supernumerary, or Stranger Knights of the Garter by Queen Elizabeth in this year's ceremony.
—Amy MacKelden, Harper's BAZAAR, 17 June 2019
Aside from work and travel, Mrs. Gradet was an extra — or supernumerary — in several productions of the Baltimore Opera, along with her husband and children.
—Christina Tkacik, baltimoresun.com, 20 May 2018
Broken into six-hour installments spaced out over two weeks, the hallucinatory concert extravaganza is being custom tailored, with local musicians, guest artists and glittery supernumeraries brought in for the occasion.
—Charles McNulty, latimes.com, 14 Mar. 2018
History will be merciless to them, but how much fun to watch them reduced to thunderstruck supernumeraries in real time.
—Frank Rich, Daily Intelligencer, 13 Sep. 2017
Adjective
This is not the pruning of a smattering of supernumerary employees, these are entire branches of the CDC felled.
—David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025
That’s quite a bit of digitalization for a car that proudly clings to such a traditionalist trope as a supernumerary cylinder count; even Ferrari’s new range-topping, $3.9 million F80 hybrid sports only six cylinders.
—Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 25 Feb. 2025
Victoria Petrovich’s set was minimal but useful, but some of Rosie Glen-Lambert’s direction struck me as wrong-headed, nowhere more so than in a supernumerary robot’s contemplation of male reproductive parts.
—Christian Hertzog, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 June 2024
The supernumerary robotic leg is more autonomous, able to assist with several different human gaits at a brisk walk and add as much as 84 watts of power.
—Evan Ackerman, IEEE Spectrum, 28 Dec. 2020
Biopsy and excision of this mass confirmed the presence of a functional supernumerary nipple.
—Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 5 May 2017
Noun
Scenes are often crowded with supernumeraries.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 30 Mar. 2023
One of West Hartford’s earlier patrol officers, Martin McCue, started as a part-time supernumerary in 1929 and became a full-time officer a year later.
—Don Stacom, courant.com, 12 Nov. 2020
As reported by ITV News, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and King Felipe VI of Spain are being invested as supernumerary, or Stranger Knights of the Garter by Queen Elizabeth in this year's ceremony.
—Amy MacKelden, Harper's BAZAAR, 17 June 2019
Aside from work and travel, Mrs. Gradet was an extra — or supernumerary — in several productions of the Baltimore Opera, along with her husband and children.
—Christina Tkacik, baltimoresun.com, 20 May 2018
Broken into six-hour installments spaced out over two weeks, the hallucinatory concert extravaganza is being custom tailored, with local musicians, guest artists and glittery supernumeraries brought in for the occasion.
—Charles McNulty, latimes.com, 14 Mar. 2018
History will be merciless to them, but how much fun to watch them reduced to thunderstruck supernumeraries in real time.
—Frank Rich, Daily Intelligencer, 13 Sep. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for supernumerary
Adjective
-
Use extra caution and consider delaying unnecessary travel until winds subside.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
12 Nov. 2025
-
These cropped mid-rise jeans boast premium stretch and still retain their shape fabulously over time, and are specifically designed to flatter an hourglass shape thanks to the contoured waistband, plus extra room at the hips and thighs.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Nor had the Wildcats met a walk-on like King Miller, the redshirt freshman running back who continued to do the work of the two injured scholarship stars in front of him, on Friday running for 90 yards on nine first-half carries.—
Mirjam Swanson,
Oc Register,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Meanwhile, on the other sideline, Syracuse coach Fran Brown inexplicably started a true freshman walk-on from the lacrosse team, Joe Filardi, who completed four passes, then got pulled for another freshman, Luke Carney, who got sacked on his only dropback.—
Stewart Mandel,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Beyond these properties, William and Kate also oversee the Duchy of Cornwall, a 135,000-acre estate in southwest England that generated a surplus income of $30 million between 2023 and 2024.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Portal pointed value hunters to GTM Discount General Store, a surplus seller whose weekly sale recently featured 50% off Eddie Bauer sweatshirts, 40% off flood lightbulbs and 40% off spring wreaths.—
Roxana Popescu,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Simpson emerged as a spear-carrier for Social Security benefit cuts in 2010, when he was appointed the GOP co-chair of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, established by Barack Obama as a sop to conservative deficit hawks.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The new medication, however, targets only the liver, the organ responsible for synthesizing triglycerides and producing cholesterol while also removing excess cholesterol from the bloodstream.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Hydrocephalus occurs when a baby is born with excess fluid in the brain.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
In this poetry collection, Vilariño strips poetry to its essence—distilling love, loss, and the inexorable passage of time into spare yet searing verses.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Pine Ridge, South Dakota — A four-pack of rez dogs trotted toward the lone grocery store, greeting and tailing human companions in hopes of a spare scrap.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The actress married her Pistol costar Thomas Brodie-Sangster in 2024.—
Ariana Quihuiz,
PEOPLE,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Hannah wed his Sliding Doors costar Joanna Roth in 1996.—
Andrew Walsh,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Lionel Messi’s first-half double ensured Miami would go through, all despite Luis Suárez serving a one-match suspension.—
Avi Creditor,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Apparently each set of doubles is supposed to add up to a coherent theme.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Supernumerary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/supernumerary. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share