as in excess
being over what is needed
surplus stock gets shipped to the warehouse and is eventually sold at auction
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of surplus
Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
And finally, eliminating a requirement for surplus parking spaces allows more compact, efficient forms of development, which results in more walkable cities and more connected neighborhoods.
—Stefan Chavez-Norgaard, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2025
Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
Looking at the number of households versus the number of units, that’s a surplus of about 4,100.
—Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for surplus
Adjective
What stays with us is a sense not of impersonation but of surplus feeling.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
And finally, eliminating a requirement for surplus parking spaces allows more compact, efficient forms of development, which results in more walkable cities and more connected neighborhoods.
—Stefan Chavez-Norgaard, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2025
Noun
Several governors have declared states of emergency so surplus and emergency funds can be used to help food banks or SNAP recipients directly.
—Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
Looking at the number of households versus the number of units, that’s a surplus of about 4,100.
—Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for surplus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surplus
Adjective
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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
Noun
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But the government also conducted emergency evacuations during the weekend after local authorities failed to plan ahead for flooding caused by the overflow of the Cauto del Paso dam, in the province of Granma, and the Cauto River, along Granma and Las Tunas.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
3 Nov. 2025
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That doesn’t include those held back for opponents’ fans, student overflow and other promotions that could be released for sale.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Use extra caution and consider delaying unnecessary travel until winds subside.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
12 Nov. 2025
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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
Adjective
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Surplus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surplus. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.
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