SUPERIOR Synonyms: 332 Similar and Opposite Words

superior 1 of 2

adjective

su̇-ˈpir-ē-ər

Definition of superior

as in arrogant

having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude that superior sportscaster lets it be known that he thinks all foreign baseball teams are second-rate

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in proud

having or displaying feelings of scorn for what is regarded as beneath oneself the superior attitude of the store owner's son drove the other employees crazy

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in excellent

of the very best kind a five-star restaurant known for its superior wine list

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in outstanding

standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement a university known for attracting superior scientists and mathematicians

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

superior

2 of 2

noun

as in boss

one who is above another in rank, station, or office if a customer is rude to you, report it to your superior and she'll handle it

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 superior

Adjective

Their relationship is built, to a large degree, around Jerry’s belief that Roberta is the superior critic — but this, for Jerry, is a form of chivalry, the flower of their love story. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 27 June 2026 This chip enables advanced on-device AI for superior active noise cancellation, focusing on isolating human speech and handling dynamic sounds. — Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

Noun

The investigation, according to the archives, cited several factors as contributing to the tragedy, including Holland’s disregard of procedures, the failure of superiors to take previous action and the inadequate preparation of crew members aboard the doomed plane. — Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 16 June 2026 The president watched Israel assassinate his colleagues and superiors, faced accusations by ultra-conservative hardline politicians of compliance with Iran’s archenemy, the United States, and even oversaw a massive crackdown on protests. — Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for superior

Recent Examples of Synonyms for superior

Adjective

West Germany, arrogant attitude adjusted, pounded Chile, 4-1.

— David j. Neal, Miami Herald, 24 June 2026
Lasso, in his initial introduction to audiences, wasn’t the warm, pun-loving, inspirational coach audiences would eventually embrace through Apple +, but a slightly arrogant buffoon parodying the average American sports fan.

— Charles Moss, New York Times, 24 June 2026

Definition of arrogant

Adjective

While San Francisco’s bullpen is struggling, Rogers is in the midst of another excellent season after signing a three-year, $37 million deal to join the defending American League champions.

— Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 7 July 2026
Guests can borrow, for no charge, one of four Mate e-bikes for spins around the park or beyond, say to Tanimachi nearby for local neighborhood vibes, including charming izakayas, gyoza shops, and excellent, one-woman restaurants such as Tachiaoi.

— Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026

Definition of excellent

Noun

Among those courtside include members of the NBA champ New York Knicks; Kelce’s Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, other teammates and coaches; ex-Disney boss Bob Iger and spouse Willow Bay; and current Disney powerhouse Dana Walden.

— Dominic Patten, Deadline, 3 July 2026
And ordering wine even when the boss hasn’t is exactly that—showing bold initiative.

— Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 3 July 2026

Definition of boss

Adjective

Then Ryan played his part in achieving those goals Sunday, posting a dominant performance in New York.

— Dan Hayes, New York Times, 6 July 2026
The Angels dropped their fifth straight and 11th in 17 games, while Gray’s six-game run of dominant quality starts continues despite an All-Star snub.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026

Definition of dominant

Adjective

Historian Sandgruber describes how Alois Hitler wrote his 1895 letters in a deeply smug, anti-clerical manner that overestimated his abilities.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 June 2026
Li at times plays Cola with a smug impetuousness that belies her naivety about this world to a satisfying degree.

— Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 17 June 2026

Definition of smug

Cite this Entry

Style

“Superior.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/superior. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of superior

adjective

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on superior

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

perfunctory

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes