surplus 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of surplusnext
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 How to pronounce surplus (audio)
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 surplus
Adjective
Unless more water is conserved, the reservoirs that have stored surplus water over the decades could shrink to the point that only the water that naturally flows into the river each year would be released downstream. — Sarah Porter, The Conversation, 20 Aug. 2026 Lake Mead is also the final resting place of a surplus WWII B-29 that crashed in 1948. — Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026
Noun
That means China’s monopoly power, and its ability to weaponize it, will expand as its surpluses force more and more foreign companies out of business. — Chad P. Bown, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2026 After receiving unsolicited donations due to his online fame, Ashton chose to redirect these funds to clean seniors' bins for free, reinvesting any surplus into his business and savings. — Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for surplus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surplus
  1. excess
  2. overflow
  3. extra
  4. spare
Adjective
  • Novo Nordisk currently reuses some process water in cooling towers, where the water helps remove excess heat before eventually evaporating.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The company does, though, sell a scarf called Tulipomanie, covered in frilly blooms of an exquisiteness that seems to rebut the charge of excess hype with a wink.
    — Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of excess
Noun
  • More than 50 people pack the gallery most days, with even more seated in an overflow room.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Allies packed the board’s meeting room at the school’s downtown Fort Lauderdale campus, with many settling for seating in an overflow room.
    — Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of overflow
Adjective
  • Slovan Bratislava With an extra-time win against Celje of Slovenia last month to clinch qualification, Slovan had lost just one competitive game out of 18.
    — Nick Miller, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • The extra attention may have helped push the song to the top, but the way two programs presented Swift's appearances left some fans feeling bamboozled.
    — Bryan West, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of extra
Adjective
  • Critics of his efforts argue that the problem is less about people not knowing how to invest and more about them not having enough spare income to do so.
    — Fatima Hussein, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The original plan was for the rest of the Beatles to contribute, but during the three-and-a-half-hour session, the group struggled to find parts that improved upon McCartney’s spare arrangement.
    — Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of spare

Browse Nearby Words

surpassingly
surplus
surplusage
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Cite this Entry

“Surplus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surplus. Accessed 8 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on surplus

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about surplus

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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