SURPLUS Synonyms: 73 Similar and Opposite Words

surplus 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of surplus next

as in excess

being over what is needed surplus stock gets shipped to the warehouse and is eventually sold at auction

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surplus

2 of 2

noun

ˈsər-(ˌ)pləs

as in overflow

the state or an instance of going beyond what is usual, proper, or needed we have a surplus of plastic knives, but we're short on forks and spoons for the picnic

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Recent Examples of surplus

Adjective

Florida insurance companies, which are exposed to huge risk, pay a lot for reinsurance and must use the little that’s left to pay expenses and build surplus reserves. —

Scott Pham, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026 If Berríos misses time, Lauer would go from a seemingly surplus arm to the team’s sixth starter. —

Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026

Noun

The Universal PreK Endowment received its first infusion of funding — $300 million — in 2025, taken from the state’s robust surplus. —

Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 9 Apr. 2026 Denver has a big surplus of new apartments that is pushing down rents. —

Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 8 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for surplus

Recent Examples of Synonyms for surplus

Adjective

Their options were to donate the excess inventory, sell it off to an old-school resale chain like TJ Maxx, or chuck it.

— Hilton Als, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2026
European banks are sitting on excess capital, which Citi said could be deployed via buybacks, loan growth or M & A — though questions hover over the best route to achieve share price growth.

— Joseph Wilkins, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2026