better 1 of 4

better

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adverb

as in more
to a greater or higher extent he knows property law better than anyone else

Synonyms & Similar Words

better

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noun

better

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word better distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of better are ameliorate, help, and improve. While all these words mean "to make more acceptable or to bring nearer a standard," improve and better are general and interchangeable and apply to what can be made better whether it is good or bad.

measures to further improve the quality of medical care
immigrants hoping to better their lot

When might ameliorate be a better fit than better?

The synonyms ameliorate and better are sometimes interchangeable, but ameliorate implies making more tolerable or acceptable conditions that are hard to endure.

tried to ameliorate the lives of people in the tenements

When can help be used instead of better?

The words help and better can be used in similar contexts, but help implies a bettering that still leaves room for improvement.

a coat of paint would help that house

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 better
Adjective
But Democrats and other critics said the state could use the $10 million for better purposes and questioned how it would be determined that migrants voluntarily agreed to be transported. Jim Saunders, Sun Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2023 Despite his better instincts, a 20-year-old man went to a Gary apartment complex on Nov. 2, 2017 to sell 1.5 ounces of marijuana to his co-worker. Meredith Colias-Pete and Rebecca Jacobs, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2023
Adverb
In related news, Emma Foehringer Merchant wrote a fascinating story for Undark about researchers creating a repository of birds and bats killed at solar and wind farms, to better understand why they’re getting killed and how to prevent it. Sammy Rothstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2023 Last year, the office held listening sessions in Grove Hall, Roxbury, Mattapan, and Jamaica Plain to better understand the needs of women and gender-expansive individuals. Tiana Woodard, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Feb. 2023
Noun
In the dance of love there are no betters — there is only the pursuit of radical equality. Jimi Calhoun, Austin American-Statesman, 16 Apr. 2024 Conversely, credit card delinquencies declined for sports betters, a trend that showed up a couple years after legalization and surprised Hollenbeck. Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 26 July 2024
Verb
With so much work going into bettering USA Rugby on and off the field, a double-header matchup against England at Audi Field feels like a just reward to Iscaro. Vitas Carosella, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025 The young actress' powerful performance as the titular character, who struggles to better her circumstances while living in a caravan park with her alcoholic mother, won her the Best Actress prize at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival. Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 17 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for better
Recent Examples of Synonyms for better
Adjective
  • What makes her special is that while in the NCAA, Nugent frequently competed in the 100-meter hurdles and 100-meter dash, earning several All-American honors in both events.
    Katelyn Hutchison, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Join Fox News for access to this content Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your account - free of charge.
    Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Adverb
  • These helpful must-haves will leave you feeling more prepared for your first international trip.
    Jordyn Burrell, Travel + Leisure, 6 Apr. 2025
  • Mike Lee, a Republican senator from Utah, spent years arguing that America is a republic, not a democracy, and that its system of checks and balances is more important than the will of the people.
    Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The contract also maintains its unusual provision allowing Sanders to disclose any athletically related outside income to his superiors verbally, thus enabling him to follow NCAA bylaws while ensuring that no public paper trail is created for these earnings.
    Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Your career trajectory could change after seeking advice from one of your superiors.
    Valerie Mesa, People.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Gemini is then able to engage in conversation about the advantages of potential options.
    Paul Monckton, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
  • The amp section’s high-frequency sinusoidal power supply combines the sonic advantages of transformers with the stability of switching power supplies to deliver 140 WPC.
    Robert Ross, Robb Report, 26 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • It was found that 99.7% of the bigmouth buffalo were over 50 years old — many pushing 80 or 90 and some exceeding 100.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
  • The death toll from an earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand continues to rise with one prediction that fatalities could exceed 100,000.
    Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • By integrating state-of-the-art wildlife crossings with federal, state, and private funding, NDOT tackles pressing environmental challenges while improving roadway safety.
    Noël Fletcher, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
  • The Dodgers will visit President Trump and the White House to celebrate World Series title. Mega Millions lottery to improve the odds of winning and boost jackpot size.
    Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • However, the fact that the female figure may represent a priestess holding religious objects makes the discovery exceptional, as the researchers write.
    Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Despite their extensive tag team history, the match devolved into a repetitive exchange of superkicks, failing to showcase the wrestlers' true abilities and leaving fans disappointed, especially amidst an otherwise exceptional WrestleMania card.
    Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • A day after declaring their intention to capture large swathes of the crowded enclave, Israeli forces pushed into the city on Gaza's southern edge which had served as a last refuge for people fleeing other areas for much of the war.
    Nidal al-Mughrabi and Mahmoud Issa, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025
  • And on the state’s far eastern edge, Shelby County, the poorest of the three, took on 307 cases.
    Ilana Panich-Linsman, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Better.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/better. Accessed 9 Apr. 2025.

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