as in excesses
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 surpluses
Inflation followed and hit a high of 9%, weakening the dollar and repricing government debt to match expected future primary surpluses.
—
Jason Ma, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2026
For many reasons Texans are overtaxed as witnessed by the governor claiming surpluses.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
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
All operating surpluses are reinvested into the inn’s parent Shorefast charity, which supports the cultural and economic resilience of the local community.
—Jennifer Flowers, AFAR Media, 30 Jan. 2026
The program ended in 1943 as the war drew to an end, and there were fewer surpluses.
—Zach Halaschak, The Washington Examiner, 24 Nov. 2025
But in the real world, some major economies actively intervene in their trade and capital accounts, producing persistent surpluses caused by distortions in domestic demand and production, whereas other economies don’t.
—Michael Pettis, Foreign Affairs, 17 Nov. 2025
Designed to combat both hunger and agricultural surpluses during the Great Depression, the program used orange stamps for general food purchases and blue stamps for surplus items.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2025
Jason Ma, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2026
For many reasons Texans are overtaxed as witnessed by the governor claiming surpluses.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
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
All operating surpluses are reinvested into the inn’s parent Shorefast charity, which supports the cultural and economic resilience of the local community.
—Jennifer Flowers, AFAR Media, 30 Jan. 2026
The program ended in 1943 as the war drew to an end, and there were fewer surpluses.
—Zach Halaschak, The Washington Examiner, 24 Nov. 2025
But in the real world, some major economies actively intervene in their trade and capital accounts, producing persistent surpluses caused by distortions in domestic demand and production, whereas other economies don’t.
—Michael Pettis, Foreign Affairs, 17 Nov. 2025
Designed to combat both hunger and agricultural surpluses during the Great Depression, the program used orange stamps for general food purchases and blue stamps for surplus items.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surpluses
Noun
-
The media tired of his excesses.—
Kristen Monroe,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Noem, among other alleged excesses, attempted to fire a Coast Guard pilot who forgot to bring her blanket aboard a DHS flight, the Journal reported, and has complained to staff that Homan eclipses her in television appearances.—
Michael Scherer,
The Atlantic,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The overflows have triggered a number of recreational and shellfish harvesting advisories along the Potomac.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
22 Feb. 2026
-
As a result, sewage blockages and overflows became widespread, increasing the risk of wastewater contaminating drinking water sources and heightening the likelihood of outbreaks of diarrhea, hepatitis A and other waterborne diseases in an already vulnerable community.—
Sarah Ferguson,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Surpluses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surpluses. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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