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
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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an inferior science textbook that was out-of-date the day that it was published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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of inferior
Debra Utacia Krol, USA TODAY, 1 Dec. 2024
Likewise, the Triton fell between the superior HP Omen Transcend and inferior Alienware M16 gaming laptops.
—PCMAG, 27 Nov. 2024
This leads me to believe the homeowner or builder of the deck used an inferior, cheap joist hanger.
—Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 23 Nov. 2024
Still, as the eugenics movement gained traction in the early 20th century, American lawmakers took steps to ensure that those deemed racially inferior didn’t surreptitiously cross the color line.
—Bryan Greene, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for inferior 
Adjective
But Potter said the eight-strand necklace had only inferior abalone pieces.
—Debra Utacia Krol, USA TODAY, 1 Dec. 2024
Likewise, the Triton fell between the superior HP Omen Transcend and inferior Alienware M16 gaming laptops.
—PCMAG, 27 Nov. 2024
This leads me to believe the homeowner or builder of the deck used an inferior, cheap joist hanger.
—Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 23 Nov. 2024
Still, as the eugenics movement gained traction in the early 20th century, American lawmakers took steps to ensure that those deemed racially inferior didn’t surreptitiously cross the color line.
—Bryan Greene, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for inferior
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inferior
Noun
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Putin doesn't much appreciate strong allies, preferring subordinates.Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
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Instead of primarily being a subordinate to the head coach, Luck, 35, will preside over the coaching staff, player personnel staff and recruiting, as well as the business side of the program.Darren Sabedra, The Mercury News, 2 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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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
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Lower gas demand amid increasing supply has led to lower pump prices.Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 19 June 2023
Adjective
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Areas that are low-lying, already wet or have poor drainage could be at a risk for minor flooding depending on how heavy the rain is this week.Remington Miller, arkansasonline.com, 16 Dec. 2024
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Driver treated for minor injuries In an email to USA TODAY Monday, the Redlands Police Department said the fire department responded to the crash and treated the driver for minor injuries on scene.Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Alabama’s ceiling looked higher, but its floor looked lower.Chris Vannini, The Athletic, 9 Dec. 2024
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New York City and Philadelphia were expected to hit the mid-50s Sunday and low 60s by Wednesday.Susan Miller, USA TODAY, 9 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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This time difference is unacceptable and the cause of many breaches.Austin Gadient, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
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During Tuesday’s meeting, board members agreed that Morris’ remark was unacceptable.Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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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
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The story of 2022 (and 2021 to a lesser extent) was energy.Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 31 Jan. 2023
Adjective
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So this poor kid [who finished in last], this single guy, for a year had to have a Fathead of his buddy in boxers, a giant life-size Fathead above his bed.Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 13 Dec. 2024
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In many poor and densely populated neighborhoods across the country, people have access to free, unmetered electricity.Nasser Karimi and Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Max the Dog narrates as the mean and scheming Grinch plots to steal Christmas away from the holiday-loving Whos. Runs Dec. 10-15.Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 8 Dec. 2024
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What's more, there was a mean 8.3-fold improvement in microbial diversity, including beneficial bacteria like Bifidobacterium and Akkermansia muciniphila, helping the body to build its own natural defense against inflammation.New Atlas, New Atlas, 8 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Inferior.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inferior. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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