superlatives
Words for extremes
Superlatives are the extreme forms of adjectives and adverbs—best, worst, fastest, most beautiful.
The term extends to any exaggerated praise or expression of the highest degree: The critics exhausted their superlatives describing the performance.
Someone who speaks in superlatives habitually uses extreme language: everything is the best ever or the worst imaginable.
Utmost summit or spire
- apexUppermost point or culmination
- zenithPoint straight overhead
- acmeUltimate point of attainment
- summitPeak or diplomatic gathering
peak · climax · culmination · apogee · vertex · crest · nadir · heights
Perfect representative of type
- paragonFlawless model to emulate
- quintessencePurest embodiment of something
- masterpieceSupreme artistic achievement
- perfectionAbsence of any fault
exemplar · nonpareil · peerless · unsurpassed · transcendent · unrivaled · unmatched · incomparable
Highest in quality
- worstSuperlative of inferior
- greatestSurpassing all others
- smallestLeast in dimension
- oldestGreatest in age
youngest · farthest · nearest · longest · shortest · highest · lowest · strongest
Of higher quality
- worseMore unfavorable than before
- greaterMore in degree
- lesserLower in degree
- strongerHaving greater power
weaker · faster · slower · richer · poorer · heavier · lighter · taller
Overstating beyond reality
- overstatementClaim beyond the facts
- embellishmentDecorative addition or exaggeration
- inflationSustained price level increase
- magnificationDegree of visual enlargement
amplification · dramatization · excess · extravagance · grandiosity · bombast · hype · sensationalism
pinnacle
Utmost summit or spire
summit · peak · climax · culmination · apogee · vertex · crest · nadir · heights · extremity
epitome
Perfect representative of type
- paragonFlawless model to emulate
- quintessencePurest embodiment of something
- masterpieceSupreme artistic achievement
perfection · exemplar · nonpareil · peerless · unsurpassed · transcendent · unrivaled · unmatched · incomparable · preeminent
best
Highest in quality
oldest · youngest · farthest · nearest · longest · shortest · highest · lowest · strongest · weakest
better
Of higher quality
stronger · weaker · faster · slower · richer · poorer · heavier · lighter · taller · shorter
exaggeration
Overstating beyond reality
- overstatementClaim beyond the facts
- embellishmentDecorative addition or exaggeration
- inflationSustained price level increase
magnification · amplification · dramatization · excess · extravagance · grandiosity · bombast · hype · sensationalism · absolutism
- yearbooksenior portraits, class photos, sports pages, graduation photos, senior quotes
- yearbookssenior portraits, senior photos, senior quotes, class photos, yearbook editor
- grammardeclension, pronouns, adjectives, conjugation, nouns
- Hungariangoulash, paprika, Budapest, Magyar, puszta
- grammar topicssubject tests, grammar rules, verb forms, irregular verbs, passive voice
- modifiersadjectives, modifier, modifiers, adjective, adverb
superlativesunderstatements
Deliberately diminished descriptions
litotes · qualifications · restraint · moderation · hedges
superlativesmediocrity
Quality of being average
averages · ordinariness · adequacy · norms
- grammatical superlativeForm expressing utmost degree
- superlative formsAdjectives at maximum degree