1
: highest in rank or authority
the supreme commander
especially
: in a position of unquestioned authority, dominance, or influence
the nation's supreme leader
This Constitution … shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding. —
U.S. Constitution
U.S. Constitution In that house Lady Fawn reigned supreme, and no one ever doubted, for a moment, as to obedience. —Anthony Trollope
Anthony Trollope On the runways, glitter and gorgeousness ruled supreme … —Liza Foreman
see also supreme being
Liza Foreman 2
: greatest in degree, quality, or intensity
supreme satisfaction/pleasure/indifference
His was the perfect poise, the supreme confidence in self, which nothing could shake …—Jack London
Jack London3
: characterized by highest excellence or achievement : outstanding
supreme among musicians
a supreme athlete
… does not a supreme poet blend light and sound into one, calling darkness mute, and light eloquent?—George Eliot
George Eliot4
b
: of utmost importance : crucial
… I knew exactly what I wanted to do as an adult. I would study dinosaurs, a firm conviction inspired by one supreme moment of childhood terror dissipated by fascination—my first look at Tyrannosaurus rex in the American Museum of Natural History.—Stephen Jay Gould
Stephen Jay Gould
supremely
adverb
a supremely [=extremely] confident performer/player
supremely important ideas
supremeness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of supreme in a Sentence
The board has supreme authority over such issues.
She has an air of supreme confidence about her.
the supreme example of what not to do
a problem of supreme importance
It's a matter of supreme indifference to her.
Recent Examples on the Web
Two years after their split, the supreme leader of Iran at the time, Ayatollah Khomeini, ordered Rushdie's execution.
—Stephanie Kaloi, Peoplemag, 15 Apr. 2024
Rushdie has no interest in re-litigating The Satanic Verses
Rushdie only makes a few mentions of his 1988 book that led the supreme leader of Iran at the time to call for Rushdie's death.
—Andrew Limbong, NPR, 15 Apr. 2024
Iran is also going through a slow and complicated transition as Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader and commander in chief, is said to be ailing and faced a 2022 domestic uprising, led by women, that demanded an end to clerical rule.
—Farnaz Fassihi, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2024
Try traditional pepperoni or pile on mushrooms, green bell peppers, and Italian sausage for those classic supreme pizza flavors.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Mar. 2024
Russell’s supreme confidence hasn’t always been viewed as an asset.
—Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2024
The Chicago Symphony, arguably the supreme exemplar of American orchestral virtuosity, announced on Tuesday that Mäkelä will become its next music director in 2027, succeeding Riccardo Muti.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2024
The 32-year-old Bulgarian has always had supreme talent and variety in his game.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2024
With all of Costco’s infamous products, the rotisserie chicken quite possibly reigns supreme (with maybe the exception of the iconic $1.50 hotdog and soda combo).
—Sharon Greenthal, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Mar. 2024
Stephanie Kaloi, Peoplemag, 15 Apr. 2024
Rushdie has no interest in re-litigating The Satanic Verses
Rushdie only makes a few mentions of his 1988 book that led the supreme leader of Iran at the time to call for Rushdie's death.
—Andrew Limbong, NPR, 15 Apr. 2024
Iran is also going through a slow and complicated transition as Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader and commander in chief, is said to be ailing and faced a 2022 domestic uprising, led by women, that demanded an end to clerical rule.
—Farnaz Fassihi, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2024
Try traditional pepperoni or pile on mushrooms, green bell peppers, and Italian sausage for those classic supreme pizza flavors.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Mar. 2024
Russell’s supreme confidence hasn’t always been viewed as an asset.
—Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2024
The Chicago Symphony, arguably the supreme exemplar of American orchestral virtuosity, announced on Tuesday that Mäkelä will become its next music director in 2027, succeeding Riccardo Muti.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2024
The 32-year-old Bulgarian has always had supreme talent and variety in his game.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2024
With all of Costco’s infamous products, the rotisserie chicken quite possibly reigns supreme (with maybe the exception of the iconic $1.50 hotdog and soda combo).
—Sharon Greenthal, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'supreme.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near supreme
Cite this Entry
“Supreme.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/supreme. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
supreme
adjective
su·preme
sə-ˈprēm 
sü-
1
: highest in rank or authority
2
: highest in degree or quality
3
: greatest in degree
giving one's life is the supreme sacrifice
supremely
adverb
supremeness
noun
Etymology
from Latin supremus, a form of superus "upper," from super "over, above"
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