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Special vs. Superior — What's the Difference?

Special vs. Superior — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Special and Superior

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Special

Surpassing what is common or usual; exceptional
A special occasion.
A special treat.

Superior

Higher in rank, status, or quality
A superior officer
The new model is superior to every other car on the road

Special

Distinct among others of a kind
A special type of paint.
A special medication for arthritis.

Superior

Having or showing an overly high opinion of oneself; conceited
That girl was frightfully superior

Special

Primary
His special satisfaction comes from volunteer work.
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Superior

(of a letter, figure, or symbol) written or printed above the line.

Special

Peculiar to a specific person or thing; particular
My own special chair.
The special features of a computer.

Superior

Further above or out; higher in position.

Special

Having a limited or specific function, application, or scope
A special role in the mission.

Superior

A person superior to another in rank or status, especially a colleague in a higher position
Obeying their superiors' orders

Special

Arranged for a particular occasion or purpose
A special visit from her daughter.

Superior

A superior letter, figure, or symbol.

Special

Regarded with particular affection and admiration
A special friend.

Superior

Higher than another in rank, station, or authority
A superior officer.

Special

Additional; extra
A special holiday flight.

Superior

Of a higher nature or kind.

Special

Something arranged, issued, or appropriated to a particular service or occasion
Rode to work on the commuter special.

Superior

Of great value or excellence; extraordinary.

Special

A featured attraction, such as a reduced price
A special on salmon.

Superior

Greater in number or amount than another
An army defeated by superior numbers of enemy troops.

Special

A single television production that features a specific work, a given topic, or a particular performer.

Superior

Presuming to be or suggesting that one is morally or socially better than others; disdainful or supercilious.

Special

Distinguished by a unique or unusual quality.
A special episode of a television series

Superior

Above being affected or influenced; indifferent or immune
"Trust magnates were superior to law" (Gustavus Myers).

Special

Of particular personal interest or value; dear; beloved.
Everyone is special to someone.

Superior

Located higher than another; upper.

Special

(euphemistic) Of or related to disabilities, especially learning or intellectual disabilities.
Special education, special needs
He goes to a special school.

Superior

(Botany) Inserted or situated above the perianth. Used of an ovary.

Special

Constituting or relating to a species.

Superior

(Printing) Set above the main line of type.

Special

Chief in excellence.

Superior

(Logic) Of wider or more comprehensive application; generic. Used of a term or proposition.

Special

(military) Of or related to unconventional warfare.
Special forces, special operations

Superior

One that surpasses another in rank or quality.

Special

A reduction in consumer cost (usually for a limited time) for items or services rendered.
We're running a special on turkey for Thanksgiving.

Superior

(Ecclesiastical) The head of a religious community, such as a monastery, abbey, or convent.

Special

One of a rotation of meals systematically offered for a lower price at a restaurant.
Today's special is our tuna melt on rye.

Superior

(Printing) A superior character, as the number 2 in x2.

Special

(broadcasting) Unusual or exceptional episode of a series.
Did you see the Christmas special?

Superior

Higher in rank, status, or quality.
Rebecca had always thought shorts were far superior to pants, as they didn't constantly make her legs itch.

Special

A special constable.

Superior

Of high standard or quality.

Special

Anything that is not according to normal practice, plan, or schedule, as an unscheduled run of transportation that is normally scheduled.
Thousands came to see the special that carried the President's coffin.

Superior

Greater in size or power.

Special

Any unlicensed medicine produced or obtained for a specific individual patient.

Superior

Beyond the power or influence of; too great or firm to be subdued or affected by.

Special

(journalism) A correspondent; a journalist sent to the scene of an event to report back.

Superior

Greater or better than average.

Special

(journalism) A dispatch sent back by a special correspondent.

Superior

Courageously or serenely indifferent (as to something painful or disheartening).

Special

(theater) A light that illuminates a specific person or thing on the stage.

Superior

(typography) Printed in superscript.
A superior figure or letter

Special

(law) A person appointed specifically to examine a single event or issue.
For the few times the U.S. Supreme Court has to actually try a case, they will appoint a special master to do so.
After the Watergate break in, a special prosecutor was appointed.

Superior

Located above or out; higher in position.
The superior jaw; the superior part of an image

Special

(nursing) To supervise a patient one-on-one.

Superior

Located above or higher, a direction that in humans corresponds to cephalad.

Special

Of or pertaining to a species; constituting a species or sort.
A special is called by the schools a "species".

Superior

(botany) of a calyx Above the ovary; said of parts of the flower which, although normally below the ovary, adhere to it, and so appear to originate from its upper part.

Special

Particular; peculiar; different from others; extraordinary; uncommon.
Our Savior is represented everywhere in Scripture as the special patron of the poor and the afficted.
To this special evil an improvement of style would apply a special redress.

Superior

(botany) of an ovary Above and free from the other floral organs.

Special

Appropriate; designed for a particular purpose, occasion, or person; as, a special act of Parliament or of Congress; a special sermon.

Superior

(botany) Belonging to the part of an axillary flower which is toward the main stem.

Special

Limited in range; confined to a definite field of action, investigation, or discussion; as, a special dictionary of commercial terms; a special branch of study.

Superior

(botany) of the radicle Pointing toward the apex of the fruit.

Special

Chief in excellence.
The king hath drawnThe special head of all the land together.

Superior

(taxonomy) More comprehensive.
A genus is superior to a species.

Special

A particular.

Superior

Affecting or assuming an air of superiority.

Special

One appointed for a special service or occasion.

Superior

(astronomy) of a planet Closer to the Earth than to the Sun.

Special

A special offering (usually temporary and at a reduced price) that is featured in advertising;
They are having a special on pork chops

Superior

A person of higher rank or quality, especially a colleague in a higher position.

Special

A dish or meal given prominence in e.g. a restaurant

Superior

The senior person in a monastic community.

Special

A television production that features a particular person or work or topic;
The last of a series of BBC specials on Iran is being shown tonight

Superior

The head of certain religious institutions and colleges.

Special

Unique or specific to a person or thing or category;
The particular demands of the job
Has a paraticular preference for Chinese art
A peculiar bond of sympathy between them
An expression peculiar to Canadians
Rights peculiar to the rich
The special features of a computer
My own special chair

Superior

(printing) A superior letter, figure, or symbol.

Special

For a special service or occasion;
A special correspondent
A special adviser to the committee
Had to get special permission for the event

Superior

One who has made an original grant of heritable property to a tenant or vassal, on condition of a certain annual payment (feu duty) or of the performance of certain services.

Special

Surpassing what is common or usual or expected;
He paid especial attention to her
Exceptional kindness
A matter of particular and unusual importance
A special occasion
A special reason to confide in her
What's so special about the year 2000?

Superior

More elevated in place or position; higher; upper; as, the superior limb of the sun; the superior part of an image.

Special

Adapted to or reserved for a particular purpose;
A special kind of paint
A special medication for arthritis

Superior

Higher in rank or office; more exalted in dignity; as, a superior officer; a superior degree of nobility.

Special

Having a specific function or scope;
A special (or specific) role in the mission

Superior

Higher or greater in excellence; surpassing others in the greatness, or value of any quality; greater in quality or degree; as, a man of superior merit; or of superior bravery.

Special

First and most important;
His special interest is music
She gets special (or particular) satisfaction from her volunteer work

Superior

Beyond the power or influence of; too great or firm to be subdued or affected by; - with to.
There is not in earth a spectacle more worthy than a great man superior to his sufferings.

Special

Added to a regular schedule;
A special holiday flight
Put on special buses for the big game

Superior

More comprehensive; as a term in classification; as, a genus is superior to a species.

Superior

Above the ovary; - said of parts of the flower which, although normally below the ovary, adhere to it, and so appear to originate from its upper part; also of an ovary when the other floral organs are plainly below it in position, and free from it.

Superior

One who is above, or surpasses, another in rank, station, office, age, ability, or merit; one who surpasses in what is desirable; as, Addison has no superior as a writer of pure English.

Superior

The head of a monastery, convent, abbey, or the like.

Superior

One of greater rank or station or quality

Superior

The head of a religious community

Superior

A combatant who is able to defeat rivals

Superior

The largest freshwater lake in the world; the deepest of the Great Lakes

Superior

A town in northwest Wisconsin on Lake Superior across from Duluth

Superior

A character or symbol set or printed or written above and immediately to one side of another character

Superior

Of high or superior quality or performance;
Superior wisdom derived from experience
Superior math students

Superior

Of or characteristic of high rank or importance;
A superior officer

Superior

(sometimes followed by `to') not subject to or influenced by;
Overcome by a superior opponent
Trust magnates who felt themselves superior to law

Superior

Written or printed above and to one side of another character

Superior

Having an orbit farther from the sun than the Earth's orbit;
Mars and Jupiter are the closest in of the superior planets

Superior

Having a higher rank;
Superior officer

Superior

(often followed by `to') above being affected or influenced by;
He is superior to fear
An ignited firework proceeds superior to circumstances until its blazing vitality fades

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