superlative
5
5.7
- noun
- /səˈpɜr.lə.tɪv/
:
elogio
- Zenyatta reigns as the Queen, and we have run out of superlatives to describe how she makes us feel.
- run out of superlatives
- speak in superlatives
- described in superlatives
Examples
-
I cannot think of enough superlatives to cover the beautiful work you've done.
Blog text (10) -
We live in a time of superlatives.
Blog text (25) -
I run out of superlatives for you guys.
Blog text (3) -
We live in an age of superlatives.
Blog text (25) -
The effort has generated a string of superlatives: the most volunteers, the most cash, and the biggest state campaign on record.
Blog text (17) -
Candidates are prone to speak in superlatives, and Lula was no exception.
Academic text (2005) -
The superlatives add up to another Houston stereotype, that Houston is a "world-class city."
Academic text (2004) -
There really aren't enough superlatives to describe the effervescent duo of Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood—they're simply the best.
Blog text (18) -
The critic used superlatives to express his admiration for the artist's latest work.
-
After hearing her friends' compliments, she started using superlatives to describe her new dress.
Synonyms
1
9.9
An excited speech or writing that gives strong praise
A strong show of feeling that seems too much
A lot of praise for someone or something
Antonyms
70
5.6
Saying something in a way that makes it seem less important, serious, or bad than it really is
Compounds
- Specialized
An adjective that shows the highest degree of a quality when comparing three or more things
- Specialized
The form of a describing word that shows the most of a quality, like smartest or most beautiful
How Enthusiastic
Surface Forms
Morphology
superlative = super (transparent) = super + lative
The evaluative meaning 'of the highest quality or praise' directly follows from 'super-' (above/very) combined with the adjectival form, so learners who know 'super' can reasonably infer this sense.
Etymology
Superlatives for praise are easy to remember if you think of super- 'above', because people use superlatives to lift praise 'above' normal words and make it sound very strong.