1
as in advantage
the more favorable condition or position in a competition
your fluency in French should put you in the catbird seat for getting the Paris posting
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in center stage
the center of public attention
in the wake of the natural disaster, this obscure bureaucrat was suddenly and unexpectedly thrust into the catbird seat
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of catbird seat
The upstart state assemblymember is at the forefront of a coalition of progressives seeking to block former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo from taking the proverbial catbird seat in Gracie Mansion.
—
James Powel, USA Today, 24 June 2025
Mom, who’d just flown from Washington state to the Big Apple, fist-pumped her way to a catbird seat on Cloud 9.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 3 Apr. 2025
With memory giants like Samsung and SK Hynix cranking up production to keep pace with Nvidia’s Blackwell ramp, Lam is sitting in the catbird seat.
—John Buckingham, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
The catbird seats were occupied instead by the titans of attention.
—Ezra Klein, The Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for catbird seat
James Powel, USA Today, 24 June 2025
Mom, who’d just flown from Washington state to the Big Apple, fist-pumped her way to a catbird seat on Cloud 9.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 3 Apr. 2025
With memory giants like Samsung and SK Hynix cranking up production to keep pace with Nvidia’s Blackwell ramp, Lam is sitting in the catbird seat.
—John Buckingham, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
The catbird seats were occupied instead by the titans of attention.
—Ezra Klein, The Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for catbird seat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catbird seat
Noun
-
For one thing, that extra speed—plus a spike in spin, which has allowed pitchers to throw harder while also making the ball swerve, dive, and kick—has given pitchers an even greater advantage over batters than before.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
-
Lennard scored a late touchdown in the second quarter and had a 6-0 advantage at halftime.—
Alex Kushel,
Sun Sentinel,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
Hilary Duff takes center stage for her interview during SiriusXM's Small Stage Series in Los Angeles on May 14.—
People Staff,
PEOPLE,
16 May 2026
-
As a more maximalist mood takes center stage, accessories are becoming bolder, more playful, and intentionally attention-grabbing.—
Lauren Fisher,
Footwear News,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
The stalemate that existed has been broken, and the Republicans now seem likely to obtain a meaningful edge heading into the midterms.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
15 May 2026
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Among the various aspects of the movie that its English title refers to, not least is the unhinged rampage Lina unleashes at a couple of schoolgirls, a gringa loca on the razor’s edge.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
The menu spotlights locally sourced Japanese dishes—the nigiri and the sushi rolls are excellent—as well as sake and a solid selection of Japanese whiskey.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 May 2026
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Alysa Liu, illuminated by a single spotlight at the center of the ice, skated and twirled and jumped and spun through the same routine that helped her capture an Olympic gold medal three months ago.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
The Virginia measure became a turning point, Jeffries’ biggest swing yet, putting Democrats essentially at parity, if not a potential upper hand in the number of seats gained, and shifting Old Dominion more securely into the party’s column.—
Lisa Mascaro,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
-
Does that give an upper hand to British Hamnet star Joe Alwyn?—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
The game surely will have some late-season playoff implications as well, giving it top billing on a Chiefs schedule that features quite a few other doozies.—
Jesse Newell,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
-
Boston, Massachusetts History and seafood share top billing here.—
Lauren Schuster,
Kansas City Star,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Yet, rather than stick her face in socials or seek limelight following such hit-making, Perry dedicated a decade to her home-studio’s red light and also recovering from a 2022 double mastectomy for cancer discovered while prepping for elective reduction surgery.—
A.D. Amorosi,
SPIN,
4 May 2026
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With the Augusta National’s Masters in the recent rearview and Louisville’s Kentucky Derby ahead this weekend, pimento cheese is experiencing peak limelight.—
Jillian Dara,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2026
Noun
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Rather than focusing on the White House setting itself, White said his attention quickly turned toward how bugs could affect lighting, camera shots and the overall broadcast presentation during a live pay-per-view event.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
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At full time, he was pushed forward by Will Hughes and Maxence Lacroix to take in the appreciation of the supporters, looking almost sheepish at the attention.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Catbird seat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catbird%20seat. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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