as in surpassed
to be greater, better, or stronger than
two vaccine developers who spent years vigorously trying to outdo one another's research
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Recent Examples of outdone
Wendy's has never outdone McDonald's in size or sales, either, but since its start in 1969, the chain with the square patties and the shakes too thick to be called shakes has had as big an impact as any other on the ways fast food is defined and sold around the world.
—
Bob Vitale, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Not to be outdone, the amazing Tessa Thompson turns in a fantastically free-wheeling performance as Cass' artist girlfriend, Detroit.
—Debby Wolfinsohn, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Apr. 2026
Gervin, not to be outdone, later scores 63 against the New Orleans Jazz.
—Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Euphoria Season 3 has already outdone itself, and the first episode doesn’t even premiere for 10 more days.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2026
Boilermakers star Braden Smith had 13 points on 4-of-17 shooting to go with seven assists, while Oscar Cluff gave a 14-point and 10-rebound double-double in a strong Purdue effort that was outdone by a strong Wildcats team in the second half, who only had two losses all season.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026
Not to be outdone, on Wednesday, New8, the co-production alliance between eight northwestern European public broadcasters, unveiled their upcoming slate.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 27 Mar. 2026
Not one to be outdone in the gothic department, Hamnet director Chloé Zhao wore a black veil from designer Gabriela Hearst, who also did her black gown, on the red carpet.
—Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 17 Mar. 2026
Not to be outdone, Okongwu caught the body of Magic forward Paolo Banchero on a putback in the second half.
—Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 17 Mar. 2026
Bob Vitale, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Not to be outdone, the amazing Tessa Thompson turns in a fantastically free-wheeling performance as Cass' artist girlfriend, Detroit.
—Debby Wolfinsohn, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Apr. 2026
Gervin, not to be outdone, later scores 63 against the New Orleans Jazz.
—Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Euphoria Season 3 has already outdone itself, and the first episode doesn’t even premiere for 10 more days.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2026
Boilermakers star Braden Smith had 13 points on 4-of-17 shooting to go with seven assists, while Oscar Cluff gave a 14-point and 10-rebound double-double in a strong Purdue effort that was outdone by a strong Wildcats team in the second half, who only had two losses all season.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026
Not to be outdone, on Wednesday, New8, the co-production alliance between eight northwestern European public broadcasters, unveiled their upcoming slate.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 27 Mar. 2026
Not one to be outdone in the gothic department, Hamnet director Chloé Zhao wore a black veil from designer Gabriela Hearst, who also did her black gown, on the red carpet.
—Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 17 Mar. 2026
Not to be outdone, Okongwu caught the body of Magic forward Paolo Banchero on a putback in the second half.
—Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 17 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outdone
Verb
-
No other state has ever surpassed the $6-a-gallon mark.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The story’s most significant character, save Miranda herself, is Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway), who once toiled alongside Emily in the assistant trenches and finally surpassed her.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
All of his last three efforts on Friday exceeded 49 feet.—
Steve Brand,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Tracking put the domestic tally at somewhere between $65 and $70 million, and those expectations were far exceeded.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This one is infused with marrow and topped with radish, plus more onion, cilantro and salsa on those beautiful blue corn tortillas.—
Louisa Kung Liu Chu,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
-
International benchmark Brent Crude topped $112 a barrel Tuesday with no clear indication of an imminent resolution to the war that has severely constrained shipping traffic through the strait.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Net interest payments have already surpassed $1 trillion in fiscal year 2026, nearly triple the $345 billion paid in 2020, and have eclipsed defense spending for the first time in modern history.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Public health officials confirmed more than 650 cases in January alone, and the outbreak quickly eclipsed the 2025 outbreak in West Texas that sickened at least 762 people and killed two school-age children.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Weber excelled in schools and later, academia, helping to found the Africana Studies Department at San Diego State University.—
Ben Paviour,
Sacbee.com,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Jaquez, who still has one more season left on his rookie-scale contract but is eligible for a five-year extension at a maximum of about $245 million this summer, accepted and excelled in a bench role this season.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Outdone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outdone. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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