surpassed

verb

past tense of surpass
1
as in exceeded
to be greater, better, or stronger than she always tried to surpass her older brother at anything he did

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in transcended
to go beyond the limit of the sales of the band's newest CD have surpassed the combined sales of its last two albums

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 surpassed The South Florida results surpassed the state as a whole but followed a statewide trend of improved scores. — Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 29 June 2026 White told Cain that the reality of the situation surpassed anything Hollywood could dream up. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026 Artists like Billie Eilish and many more have surpassed the indie grind in favor of reaching fans directly and urgently through social media at the dawn of their careers. — Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 29 June 2026 Celebrations months in the making had to adjust or cancel activities entirely as much of the East Coast sweltered under heat that approached and in many cases surpassed triple digits. — Steven Sloan, Chicago Tribune, 4 July 2026 Organizers of celebrations months in the making had to adjust or cancel activities entirely as much of the East Coast sweltered under heat that approached and in many cases surpassed triple digits. — Steven Sloan, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026 The company, expected to report results later this month, had in April forecast quarterly Azure sales above Wall Street estimates, but also issued a $190 billion spending projection for 2026 that massively surpassed expectations. — Aditya Soni, USA Today, 6 July 2026 The company, expected to report ​results later this month, had in April forecast quarterly Azure sales above Wall Street estimates, but also issued ‌a $190 billion ⁠spending projection for 2026 that massively surpassed expectations. — Reuters, NBC news, 6 July 2026 With the more than 2,000-acre jump in size, the Aspen Acres fire has surpassed the 2012 High Park fire and sits behind the 2018 Spring Creek fire, which consumed 108,045 acres, according to the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control. — Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 5 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surpassed
  1. exceeded
  2. eclipsed
  3. topped
Verb
  • Between 2022 and 2024, public cash injections exceeded 10%of GDP, according to a study published last year by the Institute of Economics and Peace, an Australian think tank.
    — Tristan Bove, Fortune, 2 July 2026
  • If the cost of tokens has already exceeded the cost of the employees they were meant to replace, when does the comparison start running in the other direction?
    — Jemma Green, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of exceeded
Verb
  • This year, the usual backyard cookouts and fireworks are being eclipsed by once-in-a-generation celebrations marking the nation’s 250th birthday.
    — Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 3 July 2026
  • That power is not wholly spent, nor wholly eclipsed, by anti-democratic forces.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 3 July 2026
Definition of eclipsed
Verb
  • Tangy strawberry-lemonade jam is spread between tender lemon cake layers and topped with a strawberry frosting.
    — Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 5 July 2026
  • They’re topped with pink chrome powder that gives off a golden-hour glow.
    — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 5 July 2026
Definition of topped

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surpassed
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Cite this Entry

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

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More from Merriam-Webster on surpassed

Nglish: Translation of surpassed for Spanish Speakers

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