Superlative — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /su̇-ˈpər-lə-tiv/ su·per·la·tive

Meaning & Definition of Superlative

Superlative (adjective)

  1. of, relating to, or constituting the degree of grammatical comparison that denotes an extreme or unsurpassed level or extent
  2. surpassing all others, supreme
  3. of very high quality, excellent

Superlative (noun)

  1. the superlative degree of comparison in a language
  2. a superlative form of an adjective or adverb
  3. the superlative or utmost degree of something, acme

Superlative (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. of the very best kind

    "the New England town meeting is a superlative example of grassroots democracy"

    similar: A-OK, A1, awesome, bang-up, banner, beautiful, blue-chip, blue-ribbon, boffo, bonny (chiefly British), boss (slang), brag, brave, bully, bumper, capital, choice, classic, cool (slang), corking, crackerjack, cracking, dandy, divine, dope (slang), down (slang), dynamite, excellent, fab, fabulous, famous, fantabulous (slang), fantastic, fine, first-class, first-rate, first-string, five-star, four-star, frontline, gangbusters, gilt-edged, gone (slang), grand, great, groovy, heavenly, high-class, hot, hype (slang), immense, jim-dandy, keen, lovely, marvelous, mean, neat, nifty, noble, number one, numero uno, out-of-sight (slang), par excellence, peachy, peachy keen, phat (slang), prime, primo (slang), prize, prizewinning, quality, radical (slang), righteous (slang), sensational, slick, splendid, stellar, sterling, superb, superior, supernal, swell, terrific, tip-top, top, top-notch, top-of-the-line, top-shelf, topflight, topping (chiefly British), unsurpassed, wizard (chiefly British), wonderful, out of this world, too much
    related: acceptable, adequate, all right, decent, good, OK, passable, satisfactory, tolerable, better, exceptional, fancy, high-grade, high-test, premium, select, special, superfine, classical, standard, traditional
    opposite: atrocious, awful, execrable, lousy, pathetic, poor, rotten, terrible, vile, wretched
    near: bad, inferior, low-grade, substandard, unsatisfactory, mediocre, middling, second-class, second-rate

Superlative (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in exaggeration, hyperbole

    similar: caricature, coloring, elaboration, embellishment, embroidering, embroidery, exaggeration, hyperbole, magnification, overstatement, padding, stretching, hype, puffery, fabrication, misrepresentation, amplification, enhancement, fudging, hedging
    opposite: meiosis, understatement, belittlement, disparagement, minimizing, poor-mouthing

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Superlative

The most common words with a similar meaning to Superlative:

Slang: boss, cool, dope, down, fantabulous, gone, hype, out-of-sight, phat, primo, radical, righteous
Chiefly British: bonny, topping, wizard
A-OK, A1, awesome, bang-up, banner, beautiful, blue-chip, blue-ribbon, boffo, brag, brave, bully, bumper, capital, choice, classic, corking, crackerjack, cracking, dandy, divine, dynamite, excellent, fab, fabulous, famous, fantastic, fine, first-class, first-rate, first-string, five-star, four-star, frontline, gangbusters, gilt-edged, grand, great, groovy, heavenly

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Superlative

Words with the opposite meaning of Superlative:

atrocious, awful, execrable, lousy, pathetic, poor, rotten, terrible, vile, wretched, meiosis, understatement, belittlement, disparagement, minimizing, poor-mouthing

Related Words for Superlative

acceptable, adequate, all right, decent, good, OK, passable, satisfactory, tolerable, better, exceptional, fancy, high-grade, high-test, premium, select, special, superfine, classical, standard, traditional

Near Antonyms of Superlative

bad, inferior, low-grade, substandard, unsatisfactory, mediocre, middling, second-class, second-rate

Word Forms of Superlative

Derived words: superlatively (adverb), superlativeness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Superlative

Middle English superlatif, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin superlativus, from Latin superlatus (past participle of superferre to carry over, raise high), from super- + latus, past participle of ferre to carry tolerate, bear

First known use: 14th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Superlative

What does "Superlative" mean?

"Superlative" means of, relating to, or constituting the degree of grammatical comparison that denotes an extreme or unsurpassed level or extent. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: of, relating to, or constituting the degree of grammatical comparison that denotes an extreme or unsurpassed level or extent. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Superlative"?

Other words for "Superlative" include A-OK, A1, awesome, bang-up, banner, beautiful, blue-chip and blue-ribbon. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Superlative" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Superlative"?

There are 135 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Superlative". Common alternatives include A-OK, A1, awesome, bang-up, banner, beautiful, blue-chip, blue-ribbon, boffo and bonny.

What is a slang word for "Superlative"?

Slang words for "Superlative" include boss, cool, dope, down, fantabulous and gone.

What is the opposite of "Superlative"?

Antonyms of "Superlative" include atrocious, awful, execrable, lousy, pathetic, poor, rotten and terrible. Near antonyms include bad, inferior, low-grade and substandard.

How do you use "Superlative" in a sentence?

Examples of "Superlative" in a sentence: "the New England town meeting is a superlative example of grassroots democracy".

Is "Superlative" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Superlative" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Superlative"?

"Superlative" is pronounced /su̇-ˈpər-lə-tiv/ and divided into syllables as su·per·la·tive.