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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 surpluses
And while average state surpluses over the past decade have surpassed that number many times over, Connecticut’s budget is subject to a spending cap that ties its own growth to household income and inflation.
—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
19 June 2026
As those temporary surpluses faded, homelessness spending fell sharply.
—
Benjamin F. Henwood,
Fortune,
12 June 2026
As those temporary surpluses faded, homelessness spending fell sharply.
—
Benjamin F. Henwood,
The Conversation,
10 June 2026
That’s because those surpluses were propped up by COVID-era relief funds when Joe Biden was president.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
6 June 2026
But that average obscures a steady fall from high deficits, as the decade began, to slight surpluses in fiscal years 1998 through 2001.
—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
31 May 2026
Rising Chinese surpluses then fuel protectionist pressure abroad, and the subsequent pushback encourages Beijing to take further steps to increase its self-sufficiency.
—
Neil Shearing,
Time,
20 May 2026
Companies increasingly track shopping behavior, purchase history, seasonal patterns, and regional trends to forecast demand before shortages—or surpluses—develop.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
18 May 2026
By linking their grids, member states can share domestic surpluses in real time.
—
Ken Silverstein,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
19 June 2026
As those temporary surpluses faded, homelessness spending fell sharply.
—
Benjamin F. Henwood,
Fortune,
12 June 2026
As those temporary surpluses faded, homelessness spending fell sharply.
—
Benjamin F. Henwood,
The Conversation,
10 June 2026
That’s because those surpluses were propped up by COVID-era relief funds when Joe Biden was president.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
6 June 2026
But that average obscures a steady fall from high deficits, as the decade began, to slight surpluses in fiscal years 1998 through 2001.
—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
31 May 2026
Rising Chinese surpluses then fuel protectionist pressure abroad, and the subsequent pushback encourages Beijing to take further steps to increase its self-sufficiency.
—
Neil Shearing,
Time,
20 May 2026
Companies increasingly track shopping behavior, purchase history, seasonal patterns, and regional trends to forecast demand before shortages—or surpluses—develop.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
18 May 2026
By linking their grids, member states can share domestic surpluses in real time.
—
Ken Silverstein,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surpluses
Noun
-
Stylish excesses are dialed back as cleaner camerawork, steadier editing and Farrell’s tender narration let the character breathe, blending sci-fi curiosity with classic detective-story stakes.
-
And some creators, like Yeezy, see their right to print guns as an essential bulwark against the darkest excesses of America’s current government.
Noun
-
Researchers believe periodic flooding and river overflows helped preserve the eggs by covering them in sediment millions of years ago.
-
As long as the 83/17 split remains in place, protecting local waterways from combined sewer overflows will continue to exacerbate the water affordability crisis in Detroit.
Cite this Entry
“Surpluses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surpluses. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
