Supreme
What it means
Highest in rank, importance, authority, or quality within a stated domain.
Reach for it when making a top-position claim only when the domain and basis are clear
Patient safety remained the committee's supreme concern.
Words to choose between 6
| everyday | |
|---|---|
| warm | |
| professional | |
| formal |
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| literary |
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everyday
highest
Fits when rank can be stated plainly
Careful Highest needs a scale and may refer only to position.
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warm
Fits when exceptional quality matters without hierarchy
Careful Superb praises strongly but does not claim the top rank.
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professional
Fits when the final or greatest instance is intended
Careful Ultimate can mean last rather than best.
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formal
paramount
Fits when one concern outranks all others
Careful Paramount applies to importance, not sensory or artistic quality.
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formal
Fits when distinguished standing above peers is established
Careful Preeminence permits rivals and is less absolute than supreme.
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literary
sovereign
Fits when independent ruling authority is the exact idea
Careful Sovereignty concerns power and can be unrelated to excellence.
Opposites 3
- subordinate
- inferior
- least
Common phrases 3
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supreme importance
Access to clean water is of supreme importance during the outage.
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supreme confidence
She entered the final with supreme confidence grounded in careful preparation.
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supreme example
The garden became a supreme example of patient soil restoration.
Usage notes
Keep in mind
Supreme is absolute within a domain. Name that domain rather than presenting a preference as universal rank.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Dvortygirl, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated