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Glite Dictionary
supramaximal

supramaximal

9.9
Higher than the usual maximum level used or needed
  • adjective
  • /ˌsuːprəˈmæksɪməl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : supramáximo
  • The trainer set the treadmill to a supramaximal speed to challenge the athletes during their workout.

Examples

  • In the finals, the swimmer had to exert supramaximal effort to secure the gold medal.

  • The notion that electrical stimulation of abdominal muscles might produce supramaximal results is not supported by the data from these two subjects.

    Academic text (2001)

  • For the experiment, the researchers used supramaximal doses of the drug to test its efficacy.

Synonyms

supernormal
vssupramaximal
1 8.4

Able to do things that science cannot explain

is about exceeding absolute intensity rather than being unexplained
extranormal
vssupramaximal
1 9.2

Much more than what is usual or expected

is higher than the absolute maximum level normally possible
supranormal
vssupramaximal
9.9

Something beyond normal experience that science cannot explain

is about extreme intensity above the normal required maximum

Antonyms

submaximal
1 7.4

A level of effort that is less than the highest possible

How Intense

supramaximal
  • Specialized
9.9
maximal
6 5.8
moderate
415 3.3
low
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

supramaximal positive
supramaximaler comparative
supramaximalest superlative

Morphology

supramaximal = maximal (semi-transparent) = supra + maximal

The meaning 'above maximal' is deducible from 'supra-' + 'maximal', but 'supra-' is a formal/technical prefix that may be unfamiliar to average B1 learners.

Etymology

Supramaximal joins the first part super- meaning 'above' and maximal meaning 'the greatest' or like 'maximum'. So, a supramaximal dose or effort is one that goes 'above the maximum'.