Find Antonyms

exemplary Antonyms

Opposite of exemplary

Because the opposite of exemplary shifts with each meaning, the 14 antonyms and opposite words below are separated across 3 exact definitions and ranked by contrast strength.
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• adjective (Context 1)

Serving as a desirable model; representing the best of its kind and worthy of imitation.

Usage Example

"The officer received a commendation for her deplorable conduct during the emergency."

Strongest
deplorable
reprehensible
Strong
disgraceful
shameful
mediocre
inferior
substandard

• adjective (Context 2)

Serving as a typical example or illustration of a broader category or phenomenon.

Usage Example

"The novel is atypical of the literary movement that emerged after the war."

Strongest
atypical
unrepresentative
Strong
uncharacteristic
anomalous

• adjective (Context 3)

Serving as a warning or deterrent to others, especially by the severity of a punishment or legal award.

Usage Example

"The judge imposed an lenient sentence to deter future corporate fraud."

Strong
lenient
merciful
forgiving

Similar words to exemplary

Words similar to exemplary shift depending on context. Common synonyms include:

model
ideal
punitive
illustrative
commendable
representative
emblematic
admirable
See all synonyms of exemplary

• Nearby Words

executioner
executive
exemplarily
exemplary
exemplify
exempt
exemption

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Antonyms for Exemplary. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/antonyms/exemplary
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