SURPLUS Synonyms: 73 Similar and Opposite Words

surplus 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of surplus

as in excess

being over what is needed surplus stock gets shipped to the warehouse and is eventually sold at auction

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surplus

2 of 2

noun

ˈsər-(ˌ)pləs

as in overflow

the state or an instance of going beyond what is usual, proper, or needed we have a surplus of plastic knives, but we're short on forks and spoons for the picnic

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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 surplus

Adjective

According to Weiss Ratings, an independent financial research company, surplus lines carriers now account for 7% of the California home insurance market, up from 1% in 2021. — Paige St. John, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026 That experience led to me founding a global nonprofit and two for-profit social enterprise brands that turn surplus items into an opportunity in low- and middle-income nations. — Wayne Elsey, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026

Noun

Using aggressive budget caps that force huge surpluses, the governor has used $11 billion since 2020 to shrink pension debt. — Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 3 Oct. 2026 Trump says the Biden administration set those fees higher than necessary and built up a surplus, and the White House is framing the checks as a return of that excess. — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for surplus

Recent Examples of Synonyms for surplus

Adjective

On-site solar panels capture renewable energy during daylight, while high-capacity batteries store excess power for later use.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2026
The new definition, developed by an international panel of medical experts convened by the medical journal The Lancet, requires evidence of both excess body fat and related health problems or limitations in daily activities.

— Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of excess

Noun

The combined sewage-overflow tanks that are supposed to divert sewage from running into the canal won’t be complete until 2029 — a seven-year delay that might require parts of the canal to be re-dredged again to remove the contamination.

— Kim Velsey, Curbed, 9 Oct. 2026
These tunnels will be designed to capture that overflow and serve as massive holding tanks, with the wastewater gradually being treated at ALCOSAN's treatment plant as capacity becomes available.

— Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of overflow

Adjective

An extra $6,000 or $29,000 in gains over a decade won’t replace a lost job.

— Sarah Cannon, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
In 2003, however, Kember made a splash with Forged Prescriptions, a re-release that favored fuller mixes and extra overdubs which the band had jettisoned owing to the difficulty of reproducing them.

— Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of extra

Adjective

My version consists of a Raspberry Pi and a handful of spare bits.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 13 Oct. 2026
France's education ministry is in the process of urgently contacting around 3,000 spare teachers who could be sent to schools with the most pressing needs, often located in low-income areas, said Education Minister Edouard Geffray.

— Makini Brice, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of spare

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

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Synonyms of surplus

adjective

noun

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