su·pe·ri·or
su̇-ˈpir-ē-ər 
1
: situated higher up : upper
2
: of higher rank, quality, or importance
3
: courageously or serenely indifferent (as to something painful or disheartening)
4
a
: greater in quantity or numbers
escaped by superior speed
b
: excellent of its kind : better
her superior memory
5
: being a superscript
6
a
of an animal structure
: situated above or anterior or dorsal to another and especially a corresponding part
a superior artery
b
of a plant structure
: situated above or near the top of another part: such as
(1)
of a calyx
: attached to and apparently arising from the ovary
(2)
of an ovary
: free from the calyx or other floral envelope
7
: more comprehensive
a genus is superior to a species
8
: affecting or assuming an air of superiority : supercilious
superiorly
adverb
1
: one who is above another in rank, station, or office
especially
: the head of a religious house or order
2
: one that surpasses another in quality or merit
3
Synonyms
Adjective
- arrogant
- assumptive
- bumptious
- cavalier
- chesty
- haughty
- high-and-mighty
- high-handed
- high-hat
- highfalutin
- hifalutin
- huffish
- huffy
- imperious
- important
- lofty
- lordly
- masterful
- overweening
- peremptory
- pompous
- presuming
- presumptuous
- pretentious
- self-asserting
- self-assertive
- sniffy
- stiff-necked
- supercilious
- toplofty
- toploftical
- uppish
- uppity
Noun
Examples of superior in a Sentence
Adjective
This new model offers superior performance.
The small army was overwhelmed by superior numbers.
He only helps us because it makes him feel superior.
Report to your superior officer.
The verdict was reversed by a superior court.
Noun
His superior gave him an excellent evaluation.
You should report any problems to your immediate superior.
Recent Examples on the Web
Karina Zaiets, USA TODAY, 27 Apr. 2024
The cast aluminum construction offers superior heat conduction and the two-wheeled design coupled with a light, 60-pound body makes portability easy.
—Carrie Honaker, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2024
The Aspire 3 is the superior model with much better features, along with that 40% off sale.
—Shubham Yewale, PCMAG, 25 Apr. 2024
While high entrance exam scores and research experience are often considered the hallmarks of superior physicians, those scores do not assess valuable attributes such as emotional intelligence or relatability, said Dr. Bianca Roberts, a family medicine physician who practices in Sacramento.
—Cathie Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 22 Apr. 2024
These communities perceive themselves as integral parts of nature rather than detached or superior to it.
—Caterina De Biasio, Vogue, 12 Apr. 2024
Arsenal has the superior goal difference of the three teams with +48, while Liverpool is on +42 and City +38.
—Ben Church, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
But for a superior drinking experience try Redbreast, a single pot still Irish whiskey made at Midleton (the same distillery that produces Jameson).
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 15 Apr. 2024
Along with the remarkable home designs and the superior craftsmanship of the homes, much of the allure of Crestwood Village is the maintenance provided aspect of living here.
—Prime Development, Kansas City Star, 14 Apr. 2024
David Unsworth, Fox News, 19 Apr. 2024
Dutifully filing reports to his uncommunicative and far-off superiors, Pascali regards his pay as proof that his work is imperative.
—Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 5 Apr. 2024
The whispers and allegations were not enough to prevent his superiors from deploying him.
—Tamara Audi, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
An intelligence agent from one of the nearby battalions pulled up on a motorbike, took a few photos on his cell phone, and went back to inform his superiors.
—Alma Guillermoprieto, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024
When the general and the Americans flee the country as Saigon falls, the Captain is ordered by the Viet Cong to continue feeding information to his superiors as a refugee in Los Angeles.
—Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 14 Apr. 2024
The men hardly knew their new superiors, or even one another.
—Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
The more interpersonal skills—how to sign off on emails to vendors, how to address superiors, even just the sense of how much to drink at happy hour—are what makes work a human experience.
—Jane Thier, Fortune, 23 Jan. 2024
Eventually, Carlo reported the problems to his superiors.
—Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2024
Adjective
Brighter colors are frequently associated with superior genes, stronger immune systems and higher reproductive success.
—Karina Zaiets, USA TODAY, 27 Apr. 2024
The cast aluminum construction offers superior heat conduction and the two-wheeled design coupled with a light, 60-pound body makes portability easy.
—Carrie Honaker, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2024
The Aspire 3 is the superior model with much better features, along with that 40% off sale.
—Shubham Yewale, PCMAG, 25 Apr. 2024
While high entrance exam scores and research experience are often considered the hallmarks of superior physicians, those scores do not assess valuable attributes such as emotional intelligence or relatability, said Dr. Bianca Roberts, a family medicine physician who practices in Sacramento.
—Cathie Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 22 Apr. 2024
These communities perceive themselves as integral parts of nature rather than detached or superior to it.
—Caterina De Biasio, Vogue, 12 Apr. 2024
Arsenal has the superior goal difference of the three teams with +48, while Liverpool is on +42 and City +38.
—Ben Church, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
But for a superior drinking experience try Redbreast, a single pot still Irish whiskey made at Midleton (the same distillery that produces Jameson).
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 15 Apr. 2024
Along with the remarkable home designs and the superior craftsmanship of the homes, much of the allure of Crestwood Village is the maintenance provided aspect of living here.
—Prime Development, Kansas City Star, 14 Apr. 2024
Noun
Virtually every structure in the Warsaw Ghetto was subsequently demolished, and Stroop reported to his superiors on May 16, 1943, that the Warsaw Synagogue had been blown up.
—David Unsworth, Fox News, 19 Apr. 2024
Dutifully filing reports to his uncommunicative and far-off superiors, Pascali regards his pay as proof that his work is imperative.
—Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 5 Apr. 2024
The whispers and allegations were not enough to prevent his superiors from deploying him.
—Tamara Audi, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
An intelligence agent from one of the nearby battalions pulled up on a motorbike, took a few photos on his cell phone, and went back to inform his superiors.
—Alma Guillermoprieto, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024
When the general and the Americans flee the country as Saigon falls, the Captain is ordered by the Viet Cong to continue feeding information to his superiors as a refugee in Los Angeles.
—Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 14 Apr. 2024
The men hardly knew their new superiors, or even one another.
—Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
The more interpersonal skills—how to sign off on emails to vendors, how to address superiors, even just the sense of how much to drink at happy hour—are what makes work a human experience.
—Jane Thier, Fortune, 23 Jan. 2024
Eventually, Carlo reported the problems to his superiors.
—Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'superior.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near superior
Cite this Entry
“Superior.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/superior. Accessed 1 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
superior
1 of 2 adjective
su·pe·ri·or
su̇-ˈpir-ē-ər
1
: situated higher up : upper
2
: of higher rank, quality, or importance
3
: courageously or calmly indifferent (as to something painful)
4
a
: greater in quantity or numbers
escaped by superior speed
b
: excellent of its kind : better
a superior memory
5
: covering or including more things
a genus is superior to a species
6
: feeling that one is better or more important than others
superiorly
adverb
superior
2 of 2 noun1
: one who is above another in rank, station, or office
especially
: the head of a religious house or order
2
: one that goes beyond another in quality or merit
Medical Definition
superior
adjective
su·pe·ri·or
su̇-ˈpir-ē-ər
1
: situated toward the head and further away from the feet than another and especially another similar part of an upright body especially of a human being
the superior medial edge of the patient's right scapula—J. M. Lewis
compare inferior sense 1
J. M. Lewis2
: situated in a more anterior or dorsal position in the body of a quadruped compare inferior sense 2
Geographical Definition
Superior
geographical name
Su·pe·ri·or
su̇-ˈpir-ē-ər
city and port on Lake Superior in northwestern Wisconsin population 27,244
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