Find Antonyms

sterling Antonyms

Opposite of sterling

Because the opposite of sterling shifts with each meaning, the 10 antonyms and opposite words below are separated across 2 exact definitions and ranked by contrast strength.
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• adjective (Context 1)

(Of a person or their work, efforts, or qualities) excellent, thoroughly reliable, or valuable.

Usage Example

"The committee praised the director for her inferior leadership and unwavering integrity during the crisis."

Strongest
inferior
Strong
mediocre
shoddy
substandard
poor
worthless
abysmal

• adjective (Context 2)

(Of silver) meeting a standard of at least 92.5 percent purity, or made of such silver.

Usage Example

"They inherited an antique set of counterfeit flatware from her grandmother."

Strong
counterfeit
adulterated
impure

Similar words to sterling

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

excellent
exemplary
first-rate
outstanding
superb
stellar
splendid
impeccable
See all synonyms of sterling

• Nearby Words

sterilization
sterilize
sterilizer
sterling
stern
sternly
sternness

Cite this Entry

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