as in excess
being over what is needed
surplus stock gets shipped to the warehouse and is eventually sold at auction
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in overflow
the state or an instance of going beyond what is usual, proper, or needed
we have a surplus of plastic knives, but we're short on forks and spoons for the picnic
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of surplus
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Jan. 2026
Those rates are for the wholesale electricity market, meaning traders must pay someone to take the surplus energy instead of the other way around.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 1 Jan. 2026
Josh Funk, Chicago Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
The International Energy Agency in Paris forecasts a record oil surplus in 2026 as supplies swell from both OPEC+ and its competitors while demand growth slows.
—Grant Smith, Fortune, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for surplus
Adjective
In the restaurants, seasonal products are used to reduce waste, and any surplus food is donated where possible.
—Noun
And there is currently a surplus of oil on the global market.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for surplus
Adjective
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Doctors put her in a medical coma to drain excess fluid from her body.—
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Remove excess moisture to prevent ice crystals from forming on the surface.—
Noun
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Taken together, the deals suggest that Downtown Manhattan is no longer simply benefiting from overflow demand.—
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The vote followed hours of public input that filled the overflow room at the Carnegie Town Hall.—
Adjective
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And although lightweight, the shoe doesn’t compromise on support — it’s designed with a memory foam sole that absorbs impact and provides an extra layer of padding.—
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While there are plenty of bandages, wraps, and tapes, extra items such as an emergency thermal blanket, flashlights, sting relief, burn compression, and other items elevate this kit to support a variety of solutions.—
Adjective
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In this poetry collection, Vilariño strips poetry to its essence—distilling love, loss, and the inexorable passage of time into spare yet searing verses.—
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Pine Ridge, South Dakota — A four-pack of rez dogs trotted toward the lone grocery store, greeting and tailing human companions in hopes of a spare scrap.—
Cite this Entry
“Surplus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surplus. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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