TOPS Synonyms: 121 Similar and Opposite Words

tops 1 of 2

noun

Definition of tops

plural of top

as in lids

a piece placed over an open container to hold in, protect, or conceal its contents make sure the top is on the blender before you turn it on or you'll make a mess

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in pinnacles

the highest part or point a hawk's nest at the very top of the tree

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

tops

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of top

as in exceeds

to be greater, better, or stronger than the next contender's javelin throw topped the reigning champion's and set a new world record

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

loses (to)

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 tops

Noun

Beyond coffee, Gottsman said candidates should avoid other distractions or unprofessional impressions by putting away their phones, skipping overpowering fragrances, removing sunglasses from the tops of their heads and avoiding chewing gum. — Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2026 That roof and the Nugget Twin it tops have officially launched to give Nugget buyers a new winter-ready camper van option with four solid walls and space for four people. — New Atlas, 23 Sep. 2026 These Pact leggings are designed for everyday wear and look great with oversized sweaters and knee-high boots, blousy tops and ballet flats, or sneakers and an oversized flannel shirt for a more casual ensemble. — Jessie Quinn, PEOPLE, 20 Sep. 2026 Don’t bury the rhizomes when planting—the tops should just poke above the soil surface. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2026 The Gamecocks were tops in the SEC in points allowed after victories against Kent State (57-0) and Towson (45-9). — ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026 If your kitchen cabinets don’t extend all the way to the ceiling, Sharma recommends making practical use of the space between cabinet tops and ceilings. — Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 18 Sep. 2026 The brand makes knits, tops, jeans, jackets, raincoats and coats. — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2026 There’s limited nightly walk-in seating at high tops and the bar — otherwise, plan way ahead. — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 16 Sep. 2026

Verb

Madonna tops the nominees with 13, followed by Swift with 11, Sabrina Carpenter with nine, Ariana Grande with eight and Bruno Mars with seven. — Kimberly Nordyke, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2026 Pepper Jack cheese tops the hash browns for a melty, spicy finish. — Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2026 The track continues to rule video views and also tops streaming this week. — Billboard Japan, Billboard, 18 Sep. 2026 See gas prices by region Even without California, which tops the price list, the West Coast consistently has the highest average, followed by the Rocky Mountain region, then the Central Atlantic. — Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2026 The most common salicylic acid mistakes Over-exfoliation tops the list. — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Sep. 2026 And who could resist stocking up on a few of these Oxford cotton Old Navy tops for just $30? — Natalie Labarbera, InStyle, 16 Sep. 2026 Gasoline prices are soaring across South Florida, fueling widespread frustration among drivers as unleaded fuel tops $4 a gallon with no immediate relief in sight. — Joan Murray, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026 The 48 year between his Emmy wins tops the record previously held by his dad, Carl Reiner. — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 15 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tops

Noun

Other suitable options include heavy-duty plastic containers with locking lids or food-grade buckets with gamma seal lids.

— Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 27 Sep. 2026
This set of three food storage containers is completely free of plastic thanks to its stainless steel construction and glass lids.

— Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of lids

Noun

Fourteen years earlier, his debut feature, Ossessione, had effectively birthed Italian neorealism, and Visconti had followed it up with La Terra Trema (1948), one of the absolute pinnacles of the movement.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 24 July 2026
The Ed Sullivan Theater, which first opened in 1927, is a 13-story shadow box preserving bits from a rich history of pop culture pinnacles past.

— Edward Segarra, USA Today, 2 July 2026

Definition of pinnacles

Verb

Luxury tax payrolls determine whether a team exceeds the league’s luxury tax threshold and owes financial penalties.

— Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026
Still, her knack for collecting polished, easy-to-style shoes that are comfortable enough to stand in all day exceeds even my own abilities.

— Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of exceeds

Noun

On a hot Saturday, Pawlikowski and I revisited those heights—the slopes from which, for almost four years, starting in the spring of 1992, Serbian artillery pounded Sarajevo, which lies vulnerably cupped in the valley below.

— Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
But unlike the post-pandemic party shoe craze, many brands also kept versatility and comfort at the forefront, showing a range of heel heights and flats.

— Katie Abel, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of heights

Verb

In recent years, Hinton, who previously worked at Google, has issued a series of warnings about existential risks associated with AI, particularly if an AI model surpasses human intelligence and becomes autonomous.

— Katie McQue, NPR, 26 Sep. 2026
Money put into the fund will also not count towards a state spending limit created in the 1970s that requires the Legislature take certain actions — including refunding taxpayers — if the California’s budget surpasses a certain spending limit.

— Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of surpasses

Noun

Critics contend that some Americans -- especially lower-income borrowers -- will face higher monthly payments from the new student loan caps.

— Arthur Jones II, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026
The presentation included dripping silver finger caps that evoked the sensation of touching water.

— Virginia Corneli, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of caps

Noun

The coordinates of a vector in Hilbert space include information that corresponds to this alignment of peaks and troughs, called a wave’s phase.

— Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 23 Sep. 2026
Influenza activity typically begins increasing in the fall and peaks during the winter months.

— Angela Rodriguez, Sacbee.com, 22 Sep. 2026