as in extra
being over what is needed
a third, supernumerary witness to the signing of the will
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in walk-on
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Recent Examples of supernumerary
David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025
That’s quite a bit of digitalization for a car that proudly clings to such a traditionalist trope as a supernumerary cylinder count; even Ferrari’s new range-topping, $3.9 million F80 hybrid sports only six cylinders.
—Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 25 Feb. 2025
Victoria Petrovich’s set was minimal but useful, but some of Rosie Glen-Lambert’s direction struck me as wrong-headed, nowhere more so than in a supernumerary robot’s contemplation of male reproductive parts.
—Christian Hertzog, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 June 2024
The supernumerary robotic leg is more autonomous, able to assist with several different human gaits at a brisk walk and add as much as 84 watts of power.
—Evan Ackerman, IEEE Spectrum, 28 Dec. 2020
Biopsy and excision of this mass confirmed the presence of a functional supernumerary nipple.
—Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 5 May 2017
Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 30 Mar. 2023
One of West Hartford’s earlier patrol officers, Martin McCue, started as a part-time supernumerary in 1929 and became a full-time officer a year later.
—Don Stacom, courant.com, 12 Nov. 2020
As reported by ITV News, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and King Felipe VI of Spain are being invested as supernumerary, or Stranger Knights of the Garter by Queen Elizabeth in this year's ceremony.
—Amy MacKelden, Harper's BAZAAR, 17 June 2019
Aside from work and travel, Mrs. Gradet was an extra — or supernumerary — in several productions of the Baltimore Opera, along with her husband and children.
—Christina Tkacik, baltimoresun.com, 20 May 2018
Broken into six-hour installments spaced out over two weeks, the hallucinatory concert extravaganza is being custom tailored, with local musicians, guest artists and glittery supernumeraries brought in for the occasion.
—Charles McNulty, latimes.com, 14 Mar. 2018
History will be merciless to them, but how much fun to watch them reduced to thunderstruck supernumeraries in real time.
—Frank Rich, Daily Intelligencer, 13 Sep. 2017
Adjective
This is not the pruning of a smattering of supernumerary employees, these are entire branches of the CDC felled.
—David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025
That’s quite a bit of digitalization for a car that proudly clings to such a traditionalist trope as a supernumerary cylinder count; even Ferrari’s new range-topping, $3.9 million F80 hybrid sports only six cylinders.
—Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 25 Feb. 2025
Victoria Petrovich’s set was minimal but useful, but some of Rosie Glen-Lambert’s direction struck me as wrong-headed, nowhere more so than in a supernumerary robot’s contemplation of male reproductive parts.
—Christian Hertzog, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 June 2024
The supernumerary robotic leg is more autonomous, able to assist with several different human gaits at a brisk walk and add as much as 84 watts of power.
—Evan Ackerman, IEEE Spectrum, 28 Dec. 2020
Biopsy and excision of this mass confirmed the presence of a functional supernumerary nipple.
—Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 5 May 2017
Noun
Scenes are often crowded with supernumeraries.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 30 Mar. 2023
One of West Hartford’s earlier patrol officers, Martin McCue, started as a part-time supernumerary in 1929 and became a full-time officer a year later.
—Don Stacom, courant.com, 12 Nov. 2020
As reported by ITV News, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and King Felipe VI of Spain are being invested as supernumerary, or Stranger Knights of the Garter by Queen Elizabeth in this year's ceremony.
—Amy MacKelden, Harper's BAZAAR, 17 June 2019
Aside from work and travel, Mrs. Gradet was an extra — or supernumerary — in several productions of the Baltimore Opera, along with her husband and children.
—Christina Tkacik, baltimoresun.com, 20 May 2018
Broken into six-hour installments spaced out over two weeks, the hallucinatory concert extravaganza is being custom tailored, with local musicians, guest artists and glittery supernumeraries brought in for the occasion.
—Charles McNulty, latimes.com, 14 Mar. 2018
History will be merciless to them, but how much fun to watch them reduced to thunderstruck supernumeraries in real time.
—Frank Rich, Daily Intelligencer, 13 Sep. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for supernumerary
Adjective
-
For an extra crispy top, turn oven to broil, sprinkle casserole with a little grated Parmesan and broil 5 inches from heat until casserole is bubbling and golden, about 1 minute.—
Gretchen McKay,
Twin Cities,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Arrivals and departures are weather dependent so cushion your flight home with an extra day or two.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
OCVarsity’s list includes athletes who received a commitment letter from an Ivy League school or a military service academy, but does not include athletes offered preferred walk-on status or athletes attending a community college.—
Steve Fryer,
Oc Register,
4 Feb. 2026
-
His oldest brother, Grant Weinmann, was a standout pitcher for Lowell and earned a walk-on spot at Louisville.—
Michael Osipoff,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Within 45 days of that selection, the council would hold a public meeting to adopt a resolution declaring the lots surplus land, clearing the way for development.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Establishing a Pension Acceleration Trust, for example, would direct surplus funds toward permanently reducing pension debt — lowering future obligations and freeing up resources for core priorities.—
Carol Platt Liebau,
Hartford Courant,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Simpson emerged as a spear-carrier for Social Security benefit cuts in 2010, when he was appointed the GOP co-chair of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, established by Barack Obama as a sop to conservative deficit hawks.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
More is not necessarily better, as excess vitamin C is excreted in urine.—
Morgan Pearson,
Verywell Health,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The parking plan requires the church to provide a shuttle bus to an overflow site to manage excess cars.—
Marie Wilson,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Early motorists often carried tools and spare parts, expecting breakdowns as part of the journey.—
Bill Gourgey,
Popular Science,
5 Feb. 2026
-
With stocks of spare parts running low domestically, Orest said that former Eastern Bloc countries, such as the Czech Republic and Bulgaria, were the most obvious places to turn for help.—
Michael Holtz,
New Yorker,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
But being able to conclude a dozen years of work with his longtime costar by his side was also joyful.—
Amy Wilkinson,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Instead, the sneaker’s costar is Crater Lake National Park in Oregon, home to the namesake lake that surrounds a ruptured volcano.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Team Sweden will fight for their chance at a gold medal after defeating Great Britain 9-3 in today's mixed doubles curling semifinal.—
Isabel Yip,
NBC news,
9 Feb. 2026
-
In the doubles tournament at Flushing Meadows, Venus and Leylah Fernandez won two matches before losing in quarterfinals.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Supernumerary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/supernumerary. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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