EARLIEST Synonyms: 37 Similar and Opposite Words

earliest

adjective

as in first

coming before all others in time or order the earliest computers were massive machines that practically filled up a room

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for earliest

Adjective

Now Ricketts is running for his first full six-year term against independent Dan Osborn -- a race that initially was not expected to be competitive but is now being watched by the national parties.

— NICHOLAS INGRAM, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
One of the first of those is when their AI program teaches itself to beat the machine in a notoriously difficult video game.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of first

Adjective

However, Efthymiou has been unable to get GBP100,000 (about $130,000) to perform the initial mouse-model study.

— Deepa Fernandes, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026
In the initial screening, AccuPoint Solutions uses a variety of primary data points as a minimum baseline, maximum ceiling or within a range to eliminate those firms that do not meet CNBC's requirements.

— Kelli Grant, CFP®,Riley de León, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of initial

Adjective

The Fox reboot is being showrun by Matt Nix (Burn Notice),while many of the original creators are back to EP, including Michael Berk, Greg Bonann and Doug Schwartz, alongside new EPs Dante Di Loreto and Mike Horowitz.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026
The original series won the Golden Globe for best drama in 2019 and routinely lands near the top of lists hailing the best TV series of the past quarter century.

— Mathew Scott, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of original

Adjective

Considered the foremost institution for Asian art in the United States, this additional space will give the museum more room to display roughly 4,000 historic and contemporary works from its more than 21,000-piece collection of Asian artists.

— Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Seeing the internet’s foremost disciple of glow meet the internet’s foremost purveyor of good lighting, though, feels quite satisfying—who else needs another excuse to update that Sephora cart?

— Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of foremost

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

earlier

earliest

earliness

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Earliest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/earliest. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of earliest

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

inscrutable

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes