as in bosses
one who is above another in rank, station, or office
if a customer is rude to you, report it to your superior and she'll handle it
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Recent Examples of superiors
Though young missing-persons detective Dalia (May Calamawy) is earnest in her attempts to help, her superiors cast suspicion on Katie’s parents; eight years later, the girl is still missing, while the family has relocated to New Mexico.
—
Guy Lodge, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
Based on their own investigation, Brown’s team submitted an affidavit to their superiors at DOJ that did not make a strong enough case to move forward with what Olsen wanted.
—Doug Bock Clark, ProPublica, 13 Apr. 2026
Xi was trusted to hear his superiors discuss such state secrets.
—Michael Sheridan, Vanity Fair, 8 Apr. 2026
Motions to dismiss charges in the case paint some of the officers as rookies deferring to their superiors.
—Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
The younger Altman was ousted in February 1998 for failing to tell his superiors about the existence of a controversial videotape that showed firefighters drinking beer and using racial slurs at a firehouse retirement party, the Tribune previously reported.
—Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
Polymeropoulos described a case involving a serviceman who was treated at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and recommended for the Purple Heart by his superiors.
—Brit McCandless Farmer, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
The man asks for a cigar and the jail superintendent doesn’t need to ask for his superiors’ permission.
—Literary Hub, 20 Feb. 2026
Around this time, a young Israeli national-security official reached the same conclusion and began urging his superiors to organize an internal coup against Assad.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026
Guy Lodge, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
Based on their own investigation, Brown’s team submitted an affidavit to their superiors at DOJ that did not make a strong enough case to move forward with what Olsen wanted.
—Doug Bock Clark, ProPublica, 13 Apr. 2026
Xi was trusted to hear his superiors discuss such state secrets.
—Michael Sheridan, Vanity Fair, 8 Apr. 2026
Motions to dismiss charges in the case paint some of the officers as rookies deferring to their superiors.
—Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
The younger Altman was ousted in February 1998 for failing to tell his superiors about the existence of a controversial videotape that showed firefighters drinking beer and using racial slurs at a firehouse retirement party, the Tribune previously reported.
—Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
Polymeropoulos described a case involving a serviceman who was treated at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and recommended for the Purple Heart by his superiors.
—Brit McCandless Farmer, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
The man asks for a cigar and the jail superintendent doesn’t need to ask for his superiors’ permission.
—Literary Hub, 20 Feb. 2026
Around this time, a young Israeli national-security official reached the same conclusion and began urging his superiors to organize an internal coup against Assad.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for superiors
Noun
-
Use your diplomatic skills when dealing with parents, bosses, teachers or VIPs to avoid power struggles.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Secretaries are paying the same amount into Social Security as their bosses.—
Naperville Sun,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
These are our children, our parents, our siblings, our elders, our neighbors, and our loved ones.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
The register is full of secrets, and allows Lucy to uncover the stories of her elders, including her mother.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Lawmakers fast-tracked the measures From the session’s opening bell Tuesday morning, Republican leaders moved swiftly.—
Bill Barrow,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Nevertheless, the state’s governor, attorney general and legislative leaders were meeting to discuss how the state would respond.—
Nicholas Riccardi,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Owner Toriano Gordon was pursuing his masters degree in psychology.—
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Tilson Thomas championed classical masters but also many contemporary American composers and transformed the orchestra’s annual Beethoven festival into an American Mavericks Festival featuring works of his mentors Bernstein and Copland.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Superiors.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/superiors. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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