Another word for excellent
The best other words for excellent are splendid, admirable, standout and mint.
- Most formal
- superb, outstanding, splendid
- Strongest
- superb, outstanding, stellar
- Casual
- great, terrific, top-notch
- Instead of “absolutely excellent”
- superb, outstanding, excellent
Excellent /ˈɛksələnt/ (adjective): Very good; of a much higher than average quality or standard. In simple words: very, very good. Below are 24 rated synonyms across 4 senses, plus 29 more related words. Tap a chip for its nuance and an example.
24 synonyms shown
Very good quality · adjective
of high quality or skill
Very good performance · adjective
done exceptionally well
Excellent person · noun
a person of very high quality or value
Excellent condition · adjective
in very good condition or state
Find the right strength and register
Drag the amber target to how strong and how formal you need the word to be. The three closest synonyms light up.
You asked for: equal strength, neutral register
- first-rate — practical praise for quality
- great — broader and less precise
- terrific — enthusiastic and friendly
The dashed ring marks “excellent” itself: neutral strength, neutral register.
Synonyms for excellent in your sentence
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How to choose
Use excellent when you want neutral, widely understood praise. For a more precise choice, match the synonym to the thing being praised: superb and outstanding sound stronger, while solid or fine are milder and more restrained.
Antonyms of excellent
- bad
- poor
- inferior
- mediocre
- substandard
- awful
- terrible
- unsatisfactory
All synonyms at a glance
| Synonym | Strength | Formality | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| superb | 4/5 | formal | academic, business, creative, casual |
| outstanding | 4/5 | formal | academic, business, creative, casual |
| great | 3/5 | casual | business, creative, casual |
| terrific | 3/5 | casual | creative, casual, business |
| splendid | 3/5 | formal | creative, business |
| first-rate | 3/5 | neutral | business, creative, casual |
| top-notch | 3/5 | casual | business, creative, casual |
| fine | 2/5 | neutral | business, casual |
| impressive | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, creative, casual |
| admirable | 3/5 | formal | academic, business, creative |
| commendable | 3/5 | formal | academic, business |
| praiseworthy | 3/5 | formal | academic, business |
| stellar | 4/5 | casual | business, creative, casual |
| solid | 2/5 | neutral | business, academic |
| exceptional | 4/5 | formal | academic, business, creative, casual |
| gem | 3/5 | casual | creative, casual |
| star | 3/5 | casual | creative, casual, business |
| asset | 2/5 | formal | business, academic |
| standout | 3/5 | neutral | business, academic, creative, casual |
| pristine | 4/5 | formal | academic, business, creative, casual |
| immaculate | 4/5 | formal | academic, business, creative, casual |
| mint | 3/5 | casual | casual, business |
| like-new | 3/5 | casual | casual, business |
| flawless | 4/5 | neutral | academic, business, creative, casual |
Instead of “very excellent”
One precise word usually beats an intensifier. See the full words instead of “very” list.
| Instead of | Try |
|---|---|
| absolutely excellent | superb, outstanding, excellent |
| really excellent | very good, superb, great |
| pretty excellent | very good, pretty good, solid |
More words related to excellent
Looser matches and phrases, unrated. Check the sense before you swap one in, or compare it with “excellent”.
- superior
- high-quality
- high-grade
- premium
- choice
- premium-quality
- world-class
- supreme
- masterful
- expert
- skillful
- wonderful
- marvelous
- A-1
- blue-ribbon
- prime
- top-quality
- A-grade
- high-caliber
- worthy
- well-made
- well-done
- very good
- superb quality
- exceptionally good
- out of this world
- above average
- tip-top
- first-class
Questions about synonyms for excellent
What is the most formal or academic synonym for excellent?
Commendable and praiseworthy are among the most formal choices, especially when praising effort, conduct, or achievement. In academic or business writing, exceptional is also common when you mean unusually high quality rather than simply very good.
What is a stronger word than excellent?
Outstanding, superb, and exceptional are typically stronger than excellent. They suggest something that stands out more clearly or is closer to top-tier quality.
What is a milder alternative to excellent?
Great and fine are milder and less emphatic than excellent. Use them when you want approval without sounding especially excited or formal.
What is another word for excellent in writing?
Common alternatives include superb, outstanding, and superior. The best choice depends on whether you mean quality, performance, or condition.
What can I say instead of excellent quality?
You can say high quality, premium, top-quality, or superior quality. These phrases are natural in everyday writing and speech.