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an inferior science textbook that was out-of-date the day that it was published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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However, not only have Russian military commanders refused to send their subordinates to cross the river, but the soldiers themselves have been coming up with ways to avoid doing so.Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
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Putin doesn't much appreciate strong allies, preferring subordinates.Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 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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Leaving behind only enough for his sons to pay for his arrangements, whittled down to only a few minor possessions and a spirit broken by shouldering a piece of the contemporary American reality.Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 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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The ultimate guide to earning passive income online For some, that could mean opting for a public university with lower tuition for in-state students or attending a school that offers you a generous financial aid package.Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 20 Dec. 2024
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Walker has never been a Philipp Lahm, Trent Alexander-Arnold or Joao Cancelo in possession, but his difficulties have increased in a team that is suddenly low on cohesion and fluency.Oliver Kay, The Athletic, 20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Rangers: After winning the Presidents’ Trophy last year, the Rangers viewed a conference final loss to the eventual champions as an unacceptable result.Sean McIndoe, The Athletic, 26 Dec. 2024
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Given how much aid the United States has already provided to Ukraine, there is not much room for Washington to expand the flow of arms quantitatively, and further qualitative increases would entail unacceptable escalation risks.Samuel Charap, Foreign Affairs, 24 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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His role comes a year after a poor performance in his Madison Square Garden debut just eight games into his NBA career: 14 points on 4-of-14 shooting to go along with nine rebounds and a block.Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 25 Dec. 2024
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As of Tuesday afternoon, a winter weather advisory was in place warning of poor driving conditions in parts of the state.Andy Biggs, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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If Pudu is implying that the D9 could potentially talk you into buying your next car, that'd be a mean feat indeed.New Atlas, New Atlas, 20 Dec. 2024
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This ahead-of-its-time 1988 film stars Bill Murray as Frank Cross, a TV executive and self-seeking miser who receives a wake-up call from the ghosts of Christmas Past (David Johansen), Present (Carol Kane) and Future (Robert Hammond) to help straighten his mean spirit.Skyler Caruso, People.com, 19 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Inferior.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inferior. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
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