as in advantage
the more favorable condition or position in a competition
finally gained the upper hand in the argument
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 upper hand
But the victory actually gives them an upper hand over the New England Patriots, who were enjoying their bye week.
—
Chris Bumbaca, USA Today, 8 Dec. 2025
Benzaquen said ProphetX’s sports-only strategy gives it an upper hand over bet-on-everything rivals that also offer wagers on elections, economics and pop culture.
—Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 10 Nov. 2025
Both processors were competitive, and neither gained a drastic upper hand, save for some specific tasks.
—PC Magazine, 25 Oct. 2025
His quickness often gives him an upper hand to wall off lanes or square off rushers (zero sacks allowed).
—Dane Brugler, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for upper hand
Chris Bumbaca, USA Today, 8 Dec. 2025
Benzaquen said ProphetX’s sports-only strategy gives it an upper hand over bet-on-everything rivals that also offer wagers on elections, economics and pop culture.
—Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 10 Nov. 2025
Both processors were competitive, and neither gained a drastic upper hand, save for some specific tasks.
—PC Magazine, 25 Oct. 2025
His quickness often gives him an upper hand to wall off lanes or square off rushers (zero sacks allowed).
—Dane Brugler, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for upper hand
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upper hand
Noun
-
The Cougars finished with four turnovers and held a 26-8 advantage in points in the paint.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Columbus blanked the Blackhawks on their two power-play chances, running their string of futility to 26 man-advantages and 10 games without a goal.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Having explored the Mariana Trench, the summit of Everest, and the edge of space, Victor Vescovo knows what awe feels like in its most dramatic forms.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
29 Jan. 2026
-
In short, the frontlines of the Russia-Ukraine war are a weird laboratory for modern warfare, which, against all odds, has given Ukraine a considerable tactical edge over its much larger adversary.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
On the road - Drive in the middle lanes and stay on high ground.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Jan. 2026
-
On the road - Drive in the middle lanes and stay on high ground.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Upper hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upper%20hand. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
