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superior

/suːˈpɪəɹi.ə(ɹ)/

When using "superior" to mean better in quality, always use the word "to" instead of "than". For example, say "superior to," not "superior than." As a noun, it refers to someone with more power or authority. It is commonly used in professional, military, or religious contexts. When describing a person's attitude, "superior" often has a negative meaning, suggesting that the person is acting arrogant or conceited.

💬Casual Conversation

🎬Tuesday afternoon, Mark is hiding in the breakroom while Brian is at his desk.
Mark

Yo, can you ghostwrite this email for me? My superior is totally breathing down my neck.

Mark
Brian
Brian

Hard pass. Go figure it out yourself or just restart your brain.

💡
Mark uses 'superior' as a noun to refer to his boss, and the idiom 'breathing down my neck' to describe being closely monitored/pressured. Brian responds with 'hard pass' (slang for a firm refusal) and a sarcastic reference to his typical IT troubleshooting advice.

Meanings

adjective

Higher in station, rank, degree, importance, or quality.

"The new model is technically superior to the previous version."

adjective

Arrogant; feeling oneself to be better than others.

"She had a superior attitude that alienated her colleagues."

noun

A person of higher rank or authority in an organization.

"He reported the incident immediately to his direct superior."

Related Words

Last Updated: May 22, 2026Report an Error