Words of Positivity
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Outclass

v.capable, energeticprofessional

What it means

To prove clearly superior in quality or skill.

Reach for it when describing performance clearly superior in skill or quality

Her final design managed to outclass every costlier alternative.

Choose between these

6
  • playful

    leave behind

    the superiority is broad and vivid

    not when The phrase can sound contemptuous.

  • everyday

    beat

    a direct contest result is all that matters

    not when Beating an opponent may involve a narrow margin.

  • warm

    outshine

    superiority is conspicuous and admirable

    not when Outshine can focus on attention rather than skill.

  • professional

    outperform

    measured results are better

    not when Performance data may not reflect overall class.

  • formal

    surpass

    one result exceeds another on a named measure

    not when Surpass does not imply a large gap.

  • literary

    eclipse

    one achievement makes another seem minor

    not when Eclipse is dramatic and can belittle others.

Said against

3
  • trail
  • underperform
  • lose to

It naturally appears in

3
  • clearly outclass

    The handmade lens continued to clearly outclass the imported model.

  • outclass the field

    Her careful design managed to outclass the field on durability.

  • completely outclass

    The larger team did not completely outclass the determined newcomers.

Where this comes from

Outclass is strongly comparative and can demean people; name the performance dimension when possible.

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.