superior
1 of 2adjective
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
superior
2 of 2noun
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
: superscript
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
- better
- elder
- senior
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 5 Sep. 2022 Chall concluded that phonics instruction was far superior to look-say, especially for students from underprivileged families. Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 1 Sep. 2022 The results were far superior to basic machine-learning techniques. Steven Zeitchik, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2022 The Shark's crevice tool is far superior to the Dyson's, as shown in the picture below—the Shark left nearly nothing behind. Collin Morgan And Jon Langston, Car and Driver, 26 Aug. 2022 The growth record of the Kennedy–Johnson years in the 1960s, when real GDP grew by 5.0 percent, before neoliberalism infected the Democrats, was far superior to Clinton’s. Robert Kuttner, The New York Review of Books, 21 July 2022 Furthermore, the 32 hours of play time is far superior to even the most expensive and critically acclaimed options out there. Thomas Hindle, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Mar. 2022 Along with the $230 million contract, Watson is the superior player. Terry Pluto, cleveland, 28 Aug. 2022 To feel equal or superior to Ron, across the street, whose lawn always looks like the 18th at Pebble Beach? Dan Zak, Washington Post, 24 Aug. 2022 William Booth, Robyn Dixon And David L. Stern, Anchorage Daily News, 27 Mar. 2022 His superior, William Howe, had pursued Washington indifferently in the New York campaign, enabling the latter’s celebrated escape across the Delaware—and his recrossing to Trenton in the final days of 1776. Maxwell Carter, WSJ, 21 Mar. 2022 In July 2018, Stamm's superior said his behavior put citizens at risk and recommended he be fired, but Stamm had already submitted his resignation. Cameron Knight, The Enquirer, 26 July 2022 The examiner wanted to study the lungs and neck under a microscope, but a superior said the instruments weren’t available and denied the request. Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2022 Becerra, Cochell and Landrum are further charged with using hallucinogenic drugs, and some of the soldiers are charged with making false statements and disobeying a superior. Chris Harris, PEOPLE.com, 15 Apr. 2022 Sister Celeste Cabral, the superior of the Benedictine Monastery of Hawaii, also acknowledged Eliahna Amyah Garcia, another of the victims, whose 10th birthday would have been Saturday. Eric Killelea, San Antonio Express-News, 4 June 2022 The Bellingcat investigator also reported on a March 7 phone call from a Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) officer, reporting the death to his superior, a call captured by Ukrainian intelligence and shared with reporters. William Booth, Robyn Dixon And David L. Stern, Anchorage Daily News, 27 Mar. 2022 Shvets discussed the matter with his superior, who wanted to check it out with headquarters. Craig Unger, The New Republic, 2 Mar. 2022 See More
Adjective
Enlarge / AMD's Ryzen 6000 processors are way less common than Intel's 12th-generation Core CPUs in most laptops, but AMD's product is far superior in our testing. Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 5 Sep. 2022 Chall concluded that phonics instruction was far superior to look-say, especially for students from underprivileged families. Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 1 Sep. 2022 The results were far superior to basic machine-learning techniques. Steven Zeitchik, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2022 The Shark's crevice tool is far superior to the Dyson's, as shown in the picture below—the Shark left nearly nothing behind. Collin Morgan And Jon Langston, Car and Driver, 26 Aug. 2022 The growth record of the Kennedy–Johnson years in the 1960s, when real GDP grew by 5.0 percent, before neoliberalism infected the Democrats, was far superior to Clinton’s. Robert Kuttner, The New York Review of Books, 21 July 2022 Furthermore, the 32 hours of play time is far superior to even the most expensive and critically acclaimed options out there. Thomas Hindle, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Mar. 2022 Along with the $230 million contract, Watson is the superior player. Terry Pluto, cleveland, 28 Aug. 2022 To feel equal or superior to Ron, across the street, whose lawn always looks like the 18th at Pebble Beach? Dan Zak, Washington Post, 24 Aug. 2022 Noun
The Bellingcat investigator also reported on a March 7 phone call from a Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) officer, reporting the death to his superior, a call captured by Ukrainian intelligence and shared with reporters. William Booth, Robyn Dixon And David L. Stern, Anchorage Daily News, 27 Mar. 2022 His superior, William Howe, had pursued Washington indifferently in the New York campaign, enabling the latter’s celebrated escape across the Delaware—and his recrossing to Trenton in the final days of 1776. Maxwell Carter, WSJ, 21 Mar. 2022 In July 2018, Stamm's superior said his behavior put citizens at risk and recommended he be fired, but Stamm had already submitted his resignation. Cameron Knight, The Enquirer, 26 July 2022 The examiner wanted to study the lungs and neck under a microscope, but a superior said the instruments weren’t available and denied the request. Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2022 Becerra, Cochell and Landrum are further charged with using hallucinogenic drugs, and some of the soldiers are charged with making false statements and disobeying a superior. Chris Harris, PEOPLE.com, 15 Apr. 2022 Sister Celeste Cabral, the superior of the Benedictine Monastery of Hawaii, also acknowledged Eliahna Amyah Garcia, another of the victims, whose 10th birthday would have been Saturday. Eric Killelea, San Antonio Express-News, 4 June 2022 The Bellingcat investigator also reported on a March 7 phone call from a Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) officer, reporting the death to his superior, a call captured by Ukrainian intelligence and shared with reporters. William Booth, Robyn Dixon And David L. Stern, Anchorage Daily News, 27 Mar. 2022 Shvets discussed the matter with his superior, who wanted to check it out with headquarters. Craig Unger, The New Republic, 2 Mar. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin, comparative of superus upper, from super over, above — more at over
First Known Use
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing superior
Kids Definition
superior 1 of 2
adjective
su·pe·ri·or su̇-ˈpir-ē-ər
1
: situated higher up : higher in rank, importance, numbers, or quality
2
: excellent of its kind : better
a superior athlete
3
: showing the feeling of being better or more important than others : arrogant
a superior smirk
superior
2 of 2noun
1
: a person who is higher than another in rank, importance, or quality
2
: the head of a religious house or order
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
Legal Definition
superior
adjective
su·pe·ri·or
: of higher status, rank, or priority
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
superior 1 of 2
adjective
1
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
- arrogant
- dominant
- masterful
- important
- cavalier
- dominating
- presuming
- domineering
- supercilious
- uppity
- haughty
- smug
- imperious
- toplofty
- assumptive
- bumptious
- pompous
- pretentious
- uppish
- lordly
- huffish
- authoritarian
- proud
- sniffy
- overweening
- chesty
- peremptory
- high-and-mighty
- lofty
- toploftical
- huffy
- presumptuous
- patronizing
- magisterial
- self-assertive
- high-handed
- highfalutin
- condescending
- hifalutin
- self-asserting
- snobbish
- disdainful
- snooty
- bossy
- impudent
- pontifical
- high-hat
- stiff-necked
- snobby
- bragging
- bombastic
- pontificating
- saucy
- cocky
- boastful
- swaggering
- egocentric
- vain
- narcissistic
- vainglorious
- uninhibited
- egotistic
- complacent
- hubristic
- impertinent
- conceited
- self-complacent
- braggart
- self-affected
- egoistic
- egotistical
- self-pleased
- prideful
- self-flattering
- unreserved
- stuck-up
- blusterous
- orgulous
- egoistical
- extroverted
- brash
- blustery
- self-satisfied
- forward
- self-applauding
- self-conceited
- braggy
- self-centered
- immodest
- extraverted
- self-loving
- self-promoting
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- modest
- humble
- lowly
- unpretentious
- shrinking
- subdued
- passive
- yielding
- timid
- deferential
- unarrogant
- compliant
- diffident
- sheepish
- unaggressive
- bashful
- demure
- unobtrusive
- acquiescent
- mousy
- meek
- shy
- overmodest
- introverted
- submissive
- unassuming
- quiet
- unassertive
- reserved
- cowering
- cringing
- mousey
- retiring
- self-doubting
- self-critical
2
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
- proud
- arrogant
- disdainful
- smug
- cavalier
- haughty
- dominating
- domineering
- lordly
- confident
- selfish
- important
- prideful
- lofty
- snobbish
- highfalutin
- masterful
- uppity
- supercilious
- overbearing
- condescending
- egotistic
- patronizing
- hifalutin
- complacent
- vainglorious
- overconfident
- swaggering
- pompous
- bombastic
- self-contented
- pretentious
- vain
- presuming
- conceited
- cocky
- egoistic
- overweening
- egotistical
- impudent
- magisterial
- peremptory
- sniffy
- stuck-up
- presuming
- self-satisfied
- imperious
- self-assertive
- saucy
- boastful
- self-conceited
- egocentric
- brassy
- bloated
- self-important
- cocksure
- bossy
- brash
- forward
- presumptuous
- cheeky
- self-glorifying
- audacious
- impertinent
- bold
- sure
- high-sounding
- self-assured
- self-confident
- high-handed
- self-centered
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- modest
- humble
- lowly
- homely
- meek
- unpretentious
- unassuming
- yielding
- timid
- unpretending
- demure
- deferential
- compliant
- bashful
- passive
- diffident
- acquiescent
- retiring
- shy
- ingratiating
- shrinking
- apologetic
- submissive
- unassertive
- quiet
- subdued
- unobtrusive
- reserved
- resigned
- self-doubting
- cowering
- cringing
3
as in excellent
of the very best kind a five-star restaurant known for its superior wine list Synonyms & Similar Words
- excellent
- superb
- great
- terrific
- wonderful
- awesome
- stellar
- beautiful
- fantastic
- fabulous
- lovely
- quality
- prime
- marvelous
- fine
- superlative
- classic
- exceptional
- unsurpassed
- hot
- heavenly
- divine
- famous
- marvellous
- splendid
- choice
- good
- top
- neat
- sensational
- cool
- slick
- better
- noble
- immense
- par excellence
- capital
- sterling
- first-rate
- dynamite
- primo
- grand
- frontline
- brave
- cracking
- first-class
- topflight
- top-notch
- decent
- high-class
- prize
- supernal
- too much
- top-of-the-line
- fab
- crackerjack
- topping
- satisfactory
- top-shelf
- adequate
- mean
- bully
- prizewinning
- keen
- dandy
- peachy
- swell
- righteous
- brag
- radical
- dope
- corking
- boss
- groovy
- banner
- nifty
- bumper
- boffo
- special
- acceptable
- gangbusters
- number one
- wizard
- gangbuster
- tip-top
- hype
- fantabulous
- traditional
- gone
- first-string
- premium
- five-star
- peachy keen
- numero uno
- gilt-edge
- down
- bang-up
- four-star
- out-of-sight
- out of this world
- blue-chip
- phat
- tolerable
- blue-ribbon
- passable
- classical
- gilt-edged
- all right
- A-OK
- bonny
- standard
- A1
- jim-dandy
- superfine
- fancy
- No. 1
- bonnie
- select
- high-grade
- okay
- high-test
- OK
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- poor
- inferior
- terrible
- lousy
- awful
- pathetic
- atrocious
- vile
- wretched
- execrable
- rotten
- unsatisfactory
- substandard
- bad
- mediocre
- middling
- low-grade
- second-rate
- second-class
4
as in outstanding
standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement a university known for attracting superior scientists and mathematicians Synonyms & Similar Words
- outstanding
- distinguished
- prestigious
- illustrious
- famous
- notable
- eminent
- noteworthy
- preeminent
- renowned
- noble
- signal
- luminous
- star
- honored
- bright
- dominant
- glorious
- celebrated
- famed
- redoubtable
- exalted
- predominant
- reputable
- infamous
- notorious
- astral
- paramount
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- minor
- unimportant
- insignificant
- inferior
- average
- mediocre
- obscure
- unsung
- uncelebrated
superior
2 of 2noun
as in better
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
- better
- master
- leader
- boss
- senior
- elder
- chief
- head
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- subordinate
- inferior
- assistant
- underling
- deputy