standouts
Cream of crop
Standouts are people or things that are noticeably superior to others in a group.
The word emphasizes visibility—they stand out from the crowd: She was a standout among the applicants.
In sports, a standout is an exceptional player: The team's defensive standouts earned all-conference honors.
Luminous celestial bodies
- superstarsElite famous performers
- achieversThose who accomplish goals
- bestHighest in quality
- eliteSuperior select group
cream of the crop · MVPs · overachievers · high flyers · luminaries · frontrunners · leaders · champions
Cases not following rules
- outliersExtreme data points
- anomaliesDepartures from expected patterns
- raritiesUncommon or scarce items
- notablesDistinguished persons collectively
highlights · eye-catchers · showstoppers · head-turners · special cases · differentiators · conversation pieces · talking points
Those who prevail
- medalistsCompetition's top finishers
- finalistsLast competitors standing
- recruitsNewly joined members
- prospectsExpected future outcomes
top picks · contenders · favorites · frontrunners · game changers · underdogs · dark horses · hopefuls
stars
Luminous celestial bodies
- superstarsElite famous performers
- achieversThose who accomplish goals
- bestHighest in quality
elite · cream of the crop · MVPs · overachievers · high flyers · luminaries · frontrunners · leaders · champions · prodigies
exceptions
Cases not following rules
- outliersExtreme data points
- anomaliesDepartures from expected patterns
- raritiesUncommon or scarce items
notables · highlights · eye-catchers · showstoppers · head-turners · special cases · differentiators · conversation pieces · talking points
winners
Those who prevail
top picks · prospects · contenders · favorites · frontrunners · game changers · underdogs · dark horses · hopefuls · selections
- Key Playerskey players, MVPs, all-stars, franchise players, elite players
- sports starsall-stars, elite athletes, elite players, MVPs, superstars
- showstoppersshowstopper, showstoppers, knockout, knockouts, stunner
- eliteelite, elites, aristocrats, nobility, best
- VIPscelebrities, superstars, head of state, stars, legend
- sparklesglitter, sequins, tinsel, rhinestones, sparkle
standoutsnobodies
Unimportant, unknown persons
nonentities · unknowns · wallflowers · rank and file · bit players
standoutsmediocrities
Unremarkable people or things
also-rans · underperformers · nonentities · nobodies · failures