EXCELS Synonyms: 56 Similar and Opposite Words

excels

verb

present tense third-person singular of excel

as in surpasses

to be greater, better, or stronger than the special effects in this new sci-fi extravaganza excel any that we've seen previously

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

loses (to)

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of excels Dolan really excels here, as do the actors who play the survivors. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 16 Oct. 2026 While uptight Elinor excels at hiding her feelings for the similarly taciturn Edward, Marianne goes wild (nearly feral, really) when new neighbor Willoughby saves her from physical injury (literally sweeping her off her feet and a wincing ankle). — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 14 Oct. 2026 Tory Burch excels at activating her frow-goers, dispatching content creators like Tefi Pessoa and Kennedy Eurich as correspondents, who saturate social media with guest interviews and interactions. — Joan Kennedy, Vogue, 12 Oct. 2026 The Brewers have won back-to-back one-run games against a team that typically excels at winning them. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026 The country excels in winemaking from many small, family-run estates. — Bill St. John, Denver Post, 25 Sep. 2026 For example, if one team member excels at strategizing while another is more focused on details, these traits can be aligned to ensure the team works harmoniously. — Karla Vallecillo, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026 Orkin bed bug control services Bed bug treatment is challenging, but something that Orkin excels at. — Alora Bopray, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2026 Best Freestanding Shoe Rack From pots and pans racks to a rolling bathroom organizer, Yamakazi excels in organization. — Lauren Arzbaecher, Architectural Digest, 9 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for excels

Verb

Brady, who has 187 regular-season victories, surpasses Hall of Famer Brett Favre (186) and Peyton Manning (186) for the most regular-season victories by a starting quarterback in NFL history.

— Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Its best parts have a grandeur that surpasses its industrial settings and gets at something eerie and transcendent.

— Alison Willmore, Vulture, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of surpasses

Verb

From scratch thousand island dressing exceeds the seven-day use-by date.

— NWA Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
Families spend about 9% to 16% of their median annual income on full-day care for just one child, and in some cases that cost exceeds their annual rent, according to a 2024 Labor Department report.

— Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of exceeds

Verb

Wynn Resorts tops the screen, with analysts expecting the casino operator's shares to climb about 70% to reach their consensus 12-month price target.

— Nick Wells, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026
Tom Brady passes for 340 yards and a touchdown and runs for another score in his 200th victory as a starting quarterback, tops in NFL history.

— Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of tops

Browse Nearby Words

excelling

excels

except

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“Excels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excels. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of excels

verb

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