as in surpasses
to be greater, better, or stronger than
the special effects in this new sci-fi extravaganza excel any that we've seen previously
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Recent Examples of excels
As every season goes by, Valerie excels at the former while being continually blocked by the latter.
—
Jennifer Silverman, Rolling Stone, 29 Mar. 2026
The show excels at casting a spell through odd details, nasty red herrings, disturbing clues.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 26 Mar. 2026
This coaching staff excels at player development, but is very poor at in game adjustments and execution of key plays.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2026
Toronto, a team firmly in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, excels in transition and in the paint but struggles with perimeter shooting.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 21 Mar. 2026
TrimTab Brewing excels at fruity sours infused with watermelon or peach.
—Bob Carlton, Southern Living, 16 Mar. 2026
This is a small town that excels at encouraging you to linger just a little longer.
—Jill Robbins, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2026
Grayce excels in both process and product.
—Heide Janssen, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
Brindley is a high-end, debatably elite skater who gets through his extensions quickly (including from a standstill), excels on his edges, rounds corners sharply and darts around the ice, hunting pucks and pushing through holes.
—Scott Wheeler, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Jennifer Silverman, Rolling Stone, 29 Mar. 2026
The show excels at casting a spell through odd details, nasty red herrings, disturbing clues.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 26 Mar. 2026
This coaching staff excels at player development, but is very poor at in game adjustments and execution of key plays.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2026
Toronto, a team firmly in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, excels in transition and in the paint but struggles with perimeter shooting.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 21 Mar. 2026
TrimTab Brewing excels at fruity sours infused with watermelon or peach.
—Bob Carlton, Southern Living, 16 Mar. 2026
This is a small town that excels at encouraging you to linger just a little longer.
—Jill Robbins, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2026
Grayce excels in both process and product.
—Heide Janssen, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
Brindley is a high-end, debatably elite skater who gets through his extensions quickly (including from a standstill), excels on his edges, rounds corners sharply and darts around the ice, hunting pucks and pushing through holes.
—Scott Wheeler, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excels
Verb
-
Although Texas’ high school graduation rate surpasses the national average, the state trails in the share of young adults with four-year college degrees.—
Wilborn P. Nobles III,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
This meticulous process is all in the name of snagged that Master Chronometer label, meaning that the timepiece is highly accurate and surpasses the threshold for ultra-high performance.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
For the first time in four years, the national average for a gallon of regular gas exceeds $4 a gallon, AAA reports.—
Emily McLeod,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The amount of geothermal energy within Earth far exceeds global energy requirements, but harnessing this energy to produce electricity can be difficult.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Angels have eight homers as a team, which tops the majors.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Matchbox Twenty tops Saturday’s bill of Lord Huron, Geese, the All-American Rejects, Lucy Dacus, Matt and Kim, Jensen McRae, Devon Gilfillian, Yam Haus and Porch Light.—
Ross Raihala,
Twin Cities,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
If China finally eclipses the United States as the world’s preeminent scientific superpower, there won’t be an official announcement.—
Ross Andersen,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
-
His fan base eclipses the entire following of progressive American media companies such as The Huffington Post and Mother Jones.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Excels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excels. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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