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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in lower
situated lower down
creatures that inhabit the dark, inferior depths of the ocean
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2
as in minor
of little or less value or merit
a girl who has always felt inferior to her older sister
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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
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4
as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard
an inferior science textbook that was out-of-date the day that it was published
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5
as in lesser
having not so great importance or rank as another
an inferior officer cannot strike a superior under any circumstances
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6
as in poor
of low quality
inferior chocolate candy that no serious chocolate lover would think of eating
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inferior
Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
Matt Richardson, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
These were dramatically inferior seats.
—Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inferior
Noun
That comes to the Philippines in the form of war, as well as through the invocation, or establishment, of American-style modes of government and education that place Filipinos along this racial hierarchy, identifying them as these inferiors that need to be taught how to govern themselves.
—Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
Adjective
In these three scenarios, then, the money market account is inferior in two of them, while the returns will be identical for the shorter, 3-month option.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
These were dramatically inferior seats.
—Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inferior
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inferior
Noun
-
His public dynamic with Schoen is that of a boss and his subordinate.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Cincinnati's now-former police chief, once sued by subordinates for alleged discrimination against White male officers, has been fired.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
And ultimately, the Supreme Court overruled those lower court rulings and did declare the embryos as children qualifying under the wrongful death statute.—
Dana Taylor,
USA TODAY,
1 Mar. 2024
-
Lower gas demand amid increasing supply has led to lower pump prices.—
Frank Witsil,
Detroit Free Press,
19 June 2023
Adjective
-
The buckling may start in the middle, and minor variations in a given can’s shape and size might affect when the first ring emerges.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
2 May 2026
-
Obtain one that contains major and minor nutrients.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 May 2026
Adjective
-
Cloudflare projected revenue of $664 million to $665 million for the second quarter, which was lower than the $666 million Wall Street anticipated.—
Queenie Wong,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
-
That is why trust in public health is at an all-time low.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
Our current contractor’s price proposal and timeline to finish the bridge was unreasonable and unacceptable.—
Katie Thomson,
Baltimore Sun,
6 May 2026
-
What happened was unacceptable.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
Even lesser-scale incidents like the Varsity Blues college admissions scandal and the Volkswagen emissions scandal erode trust in the institutions that help make our society possible and push it forward.—
Lindsey Witmer Collins,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
-
Toronto’s Fred VanVleet appears to be the top target, but Miami’s Kyle Lowry, Utah’s Mike Conley and, perhaps to a lesser extent, Charlotte’s Terry Rozier have been linked to the team at various points.—
Staff Writer
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2023
Adjective
-
Injuries to key players on the Amazin’s contributed to some poor numbers as well.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Although poor students are disproportionately likely to receive special education in New York City, well-off disabled kids are the ones most acutely driving up the budget.—
Marc Novicoff,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
There is a line that can be crossed, and it’s being mean.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
6 May 2026
-
The stone, a little white-hot comet, flew in a tight, mean line across the expanse.—
Chang-rae Lee,
New Yorker,
3 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inferior.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inferior. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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