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
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Recent Examples of surplus
Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 25 Mar. 2026
More than 91% of the surplus heat is getting stored in the oceans, where heat content reached a record high last year.
—Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 23 Mar. 2026
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
Adjective
At the end of both World War I and World War II, combatant nations, both victorious and defeated, found themselves with hundreds of thousands of tons of surplus munitions.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 25 Mar. 2026
More than 91% of the surplus heat is getting stored in the oceans, where heat content reached a record high last year.
—Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 23 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
-
Drain and rinse the quinoa and shake off excess water.—
Kelly McCarthy,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
But then suddenly after a winter of heavy rain followed by hot weather, long-dormant pathogenic fungi suddenly come to life due to excess water in the root zone and bring about the tree’s demise.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Sac State was good at home in the Pavilion, going 10-4 in front of overflow crowds, but the Hornets went winless on the road at 0-16.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
9 Apr. 2026
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Two overflow rooms were set up to accommodate the public interest.—
Nicki Brown,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Philadelphia took advantage of extra chances early, notching 10 second-chance points in the opening frame.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 Apr. 2026
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News of the ocean liner’s peril was carved into a late, extra edition of the Tribune on April 15, 1912, and much of the account was devoted to the prominent people aboard.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Bohm, who erected a shrine to the baseball gods using spare bats in an empty locker adjacent to his, just embodies the frustration.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
15 Apr. 2026
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The reason the Iran war has been so disruptive, Pouyanné said, is that there is zero spare capacity in the fossil fuel supply chain.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Surplus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surplus. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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