inferior
adjective
in·fe·ri·or in-ˈfir-ē-ər 
1
: of little or less importance, value, or merit
always felt inferior to his older brother
2
a
: of low or lower degree or rank
b
: of poor quality : mediocre
3
: situated lower down : lower
4
a
: situated below another and especially another similar superior part of an upright body
b
: situated in a relatively low posterior or ventral position in a quadrupedal body
c(1)
: situated below another plant part or organ
(2)
: abaxial
5
: relating to or being a subscript
inferior noun
inferiority
(ˌ)in-ˌfir-ē-ˈȯr-ə-tē
noun -ˈär-
inferiorly
in-ˈfir-ē-ər-lē
adverb 
Synonyms
- lower
- nether
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
… the pearls were of inferior quality; they looked like pearlized globs of varying wrinkly shapes. 
Tracie Rozhon, New York Times, 24 Aug. 2002 Sharks, rays, and ratfishes share a special burden: these cartilaginous fishes are saddled with a reputation for being somehow inferior to vertebrates blessed with bony skeletons. Carl Zimmer, Natural History, September 2000 No longer do workers and peasants feel inferior to the university-trained. Rhea Menzel Whitehead, Saturday Review, 4 Mar. 1972 These pearls are of inferior quality. They were considered a socially inferior group. He always felt inferior around his brother. The judges voted to overturn a ruling made by an inferior court. See More
Tracie Rozhon, New York Times, 24 Aug. 2002 Sharks, rays, and ratfishes share a special burden: these cartilaginous fishes are saddled with a reputation for being somehow inferior to vertebrates blessed with bony skeletons. Carl Zimmer, Natural History, September 2000 No longer do workers and peasants feel inferior to the university-trained. Rhea Menzel Whitehead, Saturday Review, 4 Mar. 1972 These pearls are of inferior quality. They were considered a socially inferior group. He always felt inferior around his brother. The judges voted to overturn a ruling made by an inferior court. See More Recent Examples on the Web Greek and Roman women were considered to be inferior. Rachel Ashcroft, Longreads, 17 Sep. 2022 Morton's research was co-opted by White supremacists in the antebellum South to argue for the preservation of slavery based on ideas that Black people were inherently inferior. Jacquelyne Germain, CNN, 13 Aug. 2022 My deep dive into the fund’s holdings reveal a portfolio that is inferior to its benchmark and the S&P 500, which makes future underperformance likely. David Trainer, Forbes, 27 June 2022 Image quality is generally inferior to FALD because the LEDs are placed along the edges, typically allowing for just 32 zones. Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 25 June 2022 Some parents said they were being forced to choose between unresolved safety concerns and an inferior online experience. Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2021 Yet, the new Flying Spur V-8 proves that a reduction in power doesn't have to mean an inferior experience. Mike Duff, Car and Driver, 27 Jan. 2021 Columbus, however, raised the stakes and fielded a full-strength starting lineup against what on paper appeared to be an inferior FCC team. Pat Brennan, The Enquirer, 25 Aug. 2022 Toronto has looked like a vastly inferior team so far at Wells Fargo Center. Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 24 Apr. 2022 See More
Rachel Ashcroft, Longreads, 17 Sep. 2022 Morton's research was co-opted by White supremacists in the antebellum South to argue for the preservation of slavery based on ideas that Black people were inherently inferior. Jacquelyne Germain, CNN, 13 Aug. 2022 My deep dive into the fund’s holdings reveal a portfolio that is inferior to its benchmark and the S&P 500, which makes future underperformance likely. David Trainer, Forbes, 27 June 2022 Image quality is generally inferior to FALD because the LEDs are placed along the edges, typically allowing for just 32 zones. Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 25 June 2022 Some parents said they were being forced to choose between unresolved safety concerns and an inferior online experience. Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2021 Yet, the new Flying Spur V-8 proves that a reduction in power doesn't have to mean an inferior experience. Mike Duff, Car and Driver, 27 Jan. 2021 Columbus, however, raised the stakes and fielded a full-strength starting lineup against what on paper appeared to be an inferior FCC team. Pat Brennan, The Enquirer, 25 Aug. 2022 Toronto has looked like a vastly inferior team so far at Wells Fargo Center. Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 24 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Latin, comparative of inferus lower — more at under
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3
Phrases Containing inferior
Kids Definition
inferior 1 of 2
adjective
in·fe·ri·or in-ˈfir-ē-ər
1
: situated lower down (as in place or importance)
an inferior court
2
: of little or less importance, value, or merit
He always felt inferior to his brother.
3
: of poor quality
an inferior education
inferior
2 of 2noun
: a less important person or thing
Medical Definition
inferior
adjective
in·fe·ri·or in-ˈfir-ē-ər
1
: situated below and closer to the feet than another and especially another similar part of an upright body especially of a human being compare superior sense 1
2
: situated in a more posterior or ventral position in the body of a quadruped compare superior sense 2
Legal Definition
inferior
adjective
in·fe·ri·or
: of lower status, rank, or priority
inferior 1 of 2
noun
as in subordinate
one who is of lower rank and typically under the authority of another she is nice to her inferiors as well as to her superiors Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- subordinate
- junior
- underling
- minion
- henchman
- assistant
- menial
- domestic
- sidekick
- second
- follower
- steward
- attendant
- aid
- deputy
- adjutant
- lackey
- aide
- retainer
- second fiddle
- mate
- coadjutor
- flunky
- flunkey
- flunkie
- helpmate
- helpmeet
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- superior
- master
- leader
- chief
- boss
- captain
- head
- foreman
- senior
- headman
- helmsman
- kingpin
- taskmaster
inferior
2 of 2adjective
1
as in lower
situated lower down creatures that inhabit the dark, inferior depths of the ocean Synonyms & Similar Words
- lower
- lowest
- nether
- underlying
- nethermost
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- higher
- superior
- upper
- highest
- uppermost
- overhanging
- overhead
2
as in smaller
of little or less value or merit a girl who has always felt inferior to her older sister Synonyms & Similar Words
- smaller
- mean
- minor
- secondary
- smaller
- second-rate
- lesser
- second-class
- subordinate
- lower
- inadequate
- defective
- unsatisfactory
- ordinary
- petty
- middling
- under
- deficient
- average
- insufficient
- unacceptable
- wrong
- junior
- common
- bad
- low-level
- slighter
- amiss
- littler
- low-rent
- fair
- jerkwater
- two-bit
- small-time
- one-horse
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- superior
- higher
- greater
- more
- major
- primary
- senior
- prime
- premium
- exceptional
- adequate
- acceptable
- selected
- sufficient
- choice
- select
- high-grade
- first-class
- first-rate
3
as in low
belonging to the class of people of low social or economic rank at one time, the upper crust liked to believe that inferior people were fit only to be servants Synonyms & Similar Words
- low
- plebeian
- poor
- ignoble
- lowly
- vulgar
- common
- proletarian
- lowborn
- humble
- lumpen
- baseborn
- unwashed
- prole
- lower-class
- mean
- bourgeois
- plain
- low-life
- downscale
- déclassé
- simple
- down-market
- middle-class
- working-class
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- aristocratic
- noble
- high
- great
- lofty
- genteel
- patrician
- grand
- gentle
- highbred
- upper-class
- eminent
- upper-crust
- prominent
- illustrious
- highborn
- notable
- wellborn
- blue-blooded
4
as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard an inferior science textbook that was out-of-date the day that it was published Synonyms & Similar Words
- unacceptable
- poor
- wrong
- lame
- deficient
- bad
- substandard
- flawed
- unsatisfactory
- awful
- pathetic
- terrible
- horrible
- subpar
- wretched
- crummy
- suboptimal
- disastrous
- lacking
- lousy
- defective
- inadequate
- dissatisfactory
- dreadful
- brutal
- bastard
- ill
- sour
- off
- lesser
- paltry
- from hunger
- bush
- useless
- worthless
- wanting
- below par
- rotten
- wack
- crumby
- mediocre
- insufficient
- miserable
- bush-league
- abysmal
- punk
- under par
- detestable
- faulty
- gross
- atrocious
- deplorable
- shoddy
- vile
- execrable
- damnable
- crappy
- abominable
- common
- short
- valueless
- unspeakable
- second-rate
- odious
- horrendous
- sucky
- stinky
- egregious
- coarse
- reprehensible
- flagrant
- low-grade
- junky
- trashy
- meager
- rubbishy
- cut-rate
- miserly
- cheesy
- gnarly
- scanty
- shabby
- low-rent
- bum
- stingy
- skimpy
- bitchin'
- villainous
- counterfeit
- mean
- sleazy
- skimp
- fake
- sham
- phony
- niggardly
- meagre
- spare
- scurrilous
- miscreant
- phoney
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- standard
- adequate
- satisfactory
- superior
- acceptable
- decent
- fine
- respectable
- okay
- tolerable
- passable
- classical
- better
- excellent
- great
- classic
- divine
- perfect
- exceptional
- prime
- special
- superlative
- splendid
- noble
- top
- superb
- sufficient
- premium
- wonderful
- stellar
- mean
- heavenly
- choice
- terrific
- marvellous
- exceptional
- sensational
- marvelous
- average
- unsurpassed
- grand
- par excellence
- fabulous
- mediocre
- neat
- slick
- supernal
- sterling
- fancy
- swell
- banner
- capital
- all right
- dandy
- boss
- keen
- minimal
- borderline
- nifty
- suitable
- worthy
- middling
- fair
- useful
- unexceptional
- OK
- first-class
- first-rate
- top-notch
- groovy
- high-grade
- crackerjack
- high-test
- bang-up
- tip-top
- A1
- satisfying
- so-so
- gratifying
- jim-dandy
5
as in lesser
having not so great importance or rank as another an inferior officer cannot strike a superior under any circumstances Synonyms & Similar Words
- lesser
- less
- smaller
- lower
- subordinate
- small
- junior
- minor
- secondary
- petty
- little
- associate
- auxiliary
- second-rate
- subsidiary
- second-class
- mean
- jerkwater
- two-bit
- minute
- one-horse
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- superior
- higher
- more
- greater
- major
- prime
- primary
- senior
- superordinate
- exceptional
- choice
- first-class
- first-rate
6
as in poor
of low quality inferior chocolate candy that no serious chocolate lover would think of eating Synonyms & Similar Words
- poor
- terrible
- cheap
- bad
- rotten
- coarse
- common
- worthless
- mediocre
- useless
- wretched
- shoddy
- crappy
- miserable
- lousy
- rubbishy
- execrable
- counterfeit
- second-rate
- bum
- junky
- trashy
- gimcrack
- trumpery
- cheesy
- low-grade
- schlock
- cheapjack
- fake
- cut-rate
- low-rent
- sleazy
- bargain-basement
- valueless
- schlocky
- shlocky
- indifferent
- shlock
- lackluster
- meretricious
- showy
- gaudy
- tawdry
- garish
- el cheapo
- second-class
- ostentatious
- shabby
- flashy
- swank
- kitschy
- tacky
- kitsch
- glitzy
- sham
- brummagem
- phony
- seedy
- splashy
- swanky
- ultracheap
- phoney
- supercheap
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- superior
- excellent
- good
- fine
- elegant
- high-grade
- handsome
- first-class
- tasteful
- first-rate
- top-notch
- polished
- refined
- handcrafted
- nickelise
- nickelised
- nickelises
- nickelising
- northerlier
- northerlies
- northerliest
- northerliness
- northerly
- northermost
- northern
- northern anchovy
- northern anthracnose
- Northern Athapaskan
- northern atlantic right whale
- Northern Baptist
- northern barracuda
- northern bedstraw
- northern black currant
- northern bottlenose whale
- Northern Cape
- northern cardinal
- northern catfish
- northern cir
- Northern Circars