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
Tim Lister, CNN Money, 1 Feb. 2026
Gulf sovereign funds were established to invest surplus oil revenues abroad and promote economic diversification at home.
—Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Carol Platt Liebau, Hartford Courant, 5 Feb. 2026
The Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs each have infield surpluses, making players like Isaac Paredes, Nico Hoerner and Matt Shaw logical targets.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for surplus
Adjective
As the stockpile of surplus nets in the Netherlands and Denmark is depleted, Pot is looking elsewhere to keep the pipeline going.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 1 Feb. 2026
Gulf sovereign funds were established to invest surplus oil revenues abroad and promote economic diversification at home.
—Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Noun
Lawmakers should strengthen the spending and volatility caps by limiting off budget workarounds and ensuring that one-time surpluses are used responsibly.
—Carol Platt Liebau, Hartford Courant, 5 Feb. 2026
The Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs each have infield surpluses, making players like Isaac Paredes, Nico Hoerner and Matt Shaw logical targets.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for surplus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surplus
Adjective
-
More is not necessarily better, as excess vitamin C is excreted in urine.—
Morgan Pearson,
Verywell Health,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The parking plan requires the church to provide a shuttle bus to an overflow site to manage excess cars.—
Marie Wilson,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Just as enterprising librarians and archivists met the difficulties of their day with novel solutions, now a new generation looked for ways to adapt to the overflow.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Falco and Panther Burns regrouped and booked two three-hour sessions at Ardent Records in Midtown, once hectic with overflow from Stax but now booking sessions with national acts like ZZ Top.—
Stephen M. Deusner,
Pitchfork,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
For an extra crispy top, turn oven to broil, sprinkle casserole with a little grated Parmesan and broil 5 inches from heat until casserole is bubbling and golden, about 1 minute.—
Gretchen McKay,
Twin Cities,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Arrivals and departures are weather dependent so cushion your flight home with an extra day or two.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Early motorists often carried tools and spare parts, expecting breakdowns as part of the journey.—
Bill Gourgey,
Popular Science,
5 Feb. 2026
-
With stocks of spare parts running low domestically, Orest said that former Eastern Bloc countries, such as the Czech Republic and Bulgaria, were the most obvious places to turn for help.—
Michael Holtz,
New Yorker,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Surplus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surplus. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
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