INFERIOR: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for INFERIOR?

Need another word that means the same as “inferior”? Find 29 synonyms and 30 related words for “inferior” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Inferior” are: subscript, deficient, substandard, lesser, second-class, minor, subservient, lowly, humble, menial, not very important, under someone's heel, second-rate, low-grade, downmarket, indifferent, mediocre, unsatisfactory, shoddy, shabby, flawed, imperfect, unsound, subordinate, junior, underling, minion

Inferior as a Noun

Definitions of "Inferior" as a noun

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “inferior” as a noun can have the following definitions:

• One of lesser rank or station or quality.
• A character or symbol set or printed or written beneath or slightly below and to the side of another character.
• A person lower than another in rank, status, or ability.
• An inferior letter, figure, or symbol.

Synonyms of "Inferior" as a noun (6 Words)

junior	A child attending a junior school. Indoor tennis for juniors.
menial	A person with a menial job.
minion	A follower or underling of a powerful person, especially a servile or unimportant one. He gets oppressed minions like me to fob them off.
subordinate	An assistant subject to the authority or control of another. He was mild mannered especially with his subordinates.
subscript	A symbol notionally written as a subscript but in practice usually not used in a program alone or with others to specify one of the elements of an array.
underling	An assistant subject to the authority or control of another. She was shouting orders at underlings between gulps of coffee.

Usage Examples of "Inferior" as a noun

• Her social and intellectual inferiors.

Inferior as an Adjective

Definitions of "Inferior" as an adjective

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “inferior” as an adjective can have the following definitions:

• Lower than a given reference point.
• (of a court or tribunal) susceptible to having its decisions overturned by a higher court.
• Of low standard or quality.
• (of the ovary of a flower) situated below the sepals and enclosed in the receptacle.
• Having an orbit between the sun and the Earth's orbit.
• Low or lower in position.
• Denoting goods or services which are in greater demand during a recession than in a boom, for example second-hand clothes.
• (of a letter, figure, or symbol) written or printed below the line.
• Falling short of some prescribed norm.
• Of low or inferior quality.
• Of or characteristic of low rank or importance.
• Lower in rank, status, or quality.
• Written or printed below and to one side of another character.

Synonyms of "Inferior" as an adjective (23 Words)

deficient	Not having enough of a specified quality or ingredient. A deficient education.
downmarket	Relatively inexpensive or less prestigious. An interview for the downmarket tabloids.
flawed	(of a person) having a weakness in character. A fatally flawed strategy.
humble	Marked by meekness or modesty; not arrogant or prideful. My humble apologies.
imperfect	(of a gift, title, etc.) transferred without all the necessary conditions or requirements being met. An imperfect grasp of English.
indifferent	Marked by a lack of interest. In spite of very indifferent weather.
lesser	Used in names of animals and plants which are smaller than similar kinds e g lesser spotted woodpecker lesser celandine. He was convicted of a lesser assault charge.
low-grade	Of inferior quality.
lowly	(of an organism) primitive or simple. A lowly parish priest.
mediocre	Lacking exceptional quality or ability. The caliber of the students has gone from mediocre to above average.
menial	(of work) not requiring much skill and lacking prestige. Menial factory jobs.
minor	Of an interval characteristic of a minor scale and less by a semitone than the equivalent major interval. Smith minor.
not very important	Being the exact same one; not any other.
second-class	Of inferior status or quality.
second-rate	Moderate to inferior in quality.
shabby	Showing signs of wear and tear. Snooping was he That s a shabby trick.
shoddy	Cheap and shoddy Judith Crist. A shoddy misuse of the honours system.
subscript	Written or printed below and to one side of another character.
subservient	Abjectly submissive; characteristic of a slave or servant. The whole narration is subservient to the moral plan of exemplifying twelve virtues in twelve knights.
substandard	Falling short of some prescribed norm. Substandard spellings.
under someone's heel	Lower in rank, power, or authority.
unsatisfactory	Not satisfactory; not good enough. Her performance proved to be unsatisfactory.
unsound	Physically unsound or diseased. The tower is structurally unsound.

Usage Examples of "Inferior" as an adjective

• Ulcers located in the inferior and posterior wall of the duodenum.
• Inferior alveolar artery.
• Inferior goods.
• Mercury and Venus are inferior planets.
• Schooling in inner-city areas was inferior to that in the rest of the country.

Associations of "Inferior" (30 Words)

abject	Most unfortunate or miserable. The most abject slaves joined in the revolt.
calibre	The quality of someone’s character or the level of their ability. They could ill afford to lose a man of his calibre.
deficient	Of a quantity not able to fulfill a need or requirement. A deficient education.
disadvantaged	(of a person or area) in unfavourable circumstances, especially with regard to financial or social opportunities. We began to help the disadvantaged.
hapless	Deserving or inciting pity- Galsworthy. A hapless victim.
inadequate	Not sufficient to meet a need. Inadequate training.
inauspicious	Contrary to your interests or welfare. My words with inauspicious thunderings shook heaven.
indigent	Poor; needy. A charity for the relief of indigent artists.
lacking	Deficient or inadequate. Lacking in stamina.
meager	Deficient in amount or quality or extent. Meager fare.
meagerly	To a meager degree or in a meager manner. These voices are meagerly represented at the conference.
measly	Ridiculously small or few. Three measly votes.
minus	On the negative side or lower end of a scale. Minus 5 degrees.
miserable	Miserly. The company donated a miserable 100 for flood relief.
needy	Needy people collectively. They try to help the needy.
paltry	Petty; trivial. A paltry wage.
pathetic	Inspiring scornful pity. His ball control was pathetic.
pauper	A very poor person. He died a pauper.
piteous	Deserving or inciting pity. Piteous appeals for help.
pitiable	Inspiring mixed contempt and pity. A pitiable imitation of the real thing.
pitiful	Deserving or arousing pity. A pitiful attempt to impress her.
scanty	Women’s skimpy knickers or pants. Her dress was scanty and revealing.
scarce	Scarcely. Had scarcely rung the bell when the door flew open.
substandard	Falling short of some prescribed norm. Substandard housing.
undermanned	Inadequate in number of workers or assistants etc.
undersized	Smaller than normal for its kind. The undersized cubs may not survive the winter.
unfortunate	A person who is considered immoral or lacking in religious faith or instruction, especially a prostitute. The delay at the airport was an unfortunate start to our holiday.
unlucky	Having, bringing, or resulting from bad luck. Friday the 13th is an unlucky date.
wanting	Deficient in intelligence. The English batting technique has been found wanting.
wretched	Morally reprehensible. I felt so wretched because I thought I might never see you again.