Amazing vs. Superlative — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Updated on May 6, 2024
"Amazing" describes something very impressive or surprising, whereas "superlative" is the highest degree of something, often used in grammar to compare the best or most extreme examples.
Difference Between Amazing and Superlative
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Key Differences
"Amazing" captures the sense of wonder or astonishment inspired by something impressive, unexpected, or incredibly good. "Superlative" relates to something being at its utmost degree, indicating it is the best or highest among others.
"Amazing" is an adjective used in everyday speech to express that something is remarkable or noteworthy, like an amazing story. "Superlative," on the other hand, is often grammatical, denoting a form that indicates the extreme degree of an adjective, like "greatest."
"Amazing" is subjective and depends on the observer's perspective, implying a personal reaction to something extraordinary. "Superlative" is objective and rooted in comparison, often with specific criteria used to identify the top performer or example.
"Amazing" can be a standalone description for anything impressive, from events to performances. "Superlative," in contrast, is comparative, marking one item as the best relative to others in its group.
"Amazing" focuses on evoking emotions of surprise and admiration. "Superlative" conveys certainty, leaving no doubt that something is superior or the best.
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Comparison Chart
Meaning
Impressive or astonishing
Highest degree; surpassing all others
Usage
Everyday speech
Grammar, comparisons, evaluations
Subjectivity
Subjective, varies by observer
Objective, based on comparison criteria
Example Form
"An amazing performance"
"The fastest runner," "best singer"
Emotional Impact
Surprise and admiration
Confidence and certainty
Compare with Definitions
Amazing
Causing wonder or astonishment.
Her amazing ability to solve puzzles impressed everyone.
Superlative
Extremely good or excellent.
His superlative skills won him the championship.
Amazing
Extremely good or wonderful.
The team had an amazing victory in the final.
Superlative
Surpassing others, the best or most extreme of its kind.
She delivered a superlative performance.
Amazing
Unexpectedly remarkable or inspiring.
The sunset was amazing after a stormy day.
Superlative
A grammatical term describing the most significant degree.
The superlative form of 'small' is 'smallest.'
Amazing
Worthy of admiration due to skill or quality.
His amazing guitar skills made him the crowd favorite.
Superlative
An adjective indicating the highest degree of comparison.
In English, 'biggest' is a superlative form of 'big.'
Amazing
Very surprising and impressive.
The magician’s tricks were amazing to watch.
Superlative
Unmatched in quality or degree.
The hotel offered a superlative level of luxury.
Amazing
To affect with great wonder; astonish.
Superlative
Of the highest order, quality, or degree; surpassing or superior to all others.
Amazing
(Obsolete) To bewilder; perplex.
Superlative
Excessive or exaggerated.
Amazing
To cause great wonder or astonishment
A sight that amazes.
Superlative
(Grammar) Of, relating to, or being the extreme degree of comparison of an adjective or adverb, as in best or brightest.
Amazing
Amazement; wonder.
Superlative
Something of the highest possible excellence.
Amazing
Present participle of amaze
Superlative
The highest degree; the acme.
Amazing
Causing wonder and amazement; very surprising.
Superlative
The superlative degree.
Amazing
(informal) Possessing uniquely wonderful qualities; very good.
Superlative
An adjective or adverb expressing the superlative degree, as in brightest, the superlative of the adjective bright, or most brightly, the superlative of the adverb brightly.
Amazing
Causing amazement; very wonderful; as, amazing grace.
Superlative
The extreme (e.g. highest, lowest, deepest, farthest, etc) extent or degree of something.
Amazing
Surprising greatly;
She does an amazing amount of work
The dog was capable of astonishing tricks
Superlative
(grammar) The form of an adjective that expresses which of several items has the highest degree of the quality expressed by the adjective; in English, formed by appending "-est" to the end of the adjective (for some short adjectives only) or putting "most" before it.
The superlative of "big" is "biggest".
Amazing
Inspiring awe or admiration or wonder;
New York is an amazing city
The Grand Canyon is an awe-inspiring sight
The awesome complexity of the universe
This sea, whose gently awful stirrings seem to speak of some hidden soul beneath
Westminster Hall's awing majesty, so vast, so high, so silent
Superlative
(informal) An adjective used to praise something exceptional.
Daniel is amazing, wonderful, fantastic, and many other superlatives I can’t think of right now!
Superlative
Exceptionally good; of the highest quality; superb.
Superlative
(grammar) Of or relating to a superlative.
Superlative
Lifted up to the highest degree; most eminent; surpassing all other; supreme; as, superlative wisdom or prudence; a woman of superlative beauty; the superlative glory of the divine character.
Superlative
Expressing the highest or lowest degree of the quality, manner, etc., denoted by an adjective or an adverb. The superlative degree is formed from the positive by the use of -est, most, or least; as, highest, most pleasant, least bright.
Superlative
That which is highest or most eminent; the utmost degree.
Superlative
The superlative degree of adjectives and adverbs; also, a form or word by which the superlative degree is expressed; as, strongest, wisest, most stormy, least windy, are all superlatives.
Superlative
An exaggerated expression (usually of praise);
The critics lavished superlatives on it
Superlative
The highest level or degree attainable;
His landscapes were deemed the acme of beauty
The artist's gifts are at their acme
At the height of her career
The peak of perfection
Summer was at its peak
...catapulted Einstein to the pinnacle of fame
The summit of his ambition
So many highest superlatives achieved by man
At the top of his profession
Superlative
The superlative form of an adjective;
`best' is the superlative form of `good'
Superlative
Highest in quality
Common Curiosities
Are superlatives always extreme comparisons?
Yes, superlatives always represent the highest or lowest extremes of comparison.
How do "amazing" and "superlative" differ in usage?
"Amazing" is used for subjective admiration, while "superlative" is an objective measure of comparison.
Is "amazing" positive or negative?
"Amazing" is typically positive, used to describe something wonderful or surprising.
Can "superlative" describe anything other than grammar?
Yes, "superlative" can refer to anything of the highest quality or standard.
What is the superlative form of "amazing"?
"Most amazing" is the superlative form.
Is "amazing" synonymous with "astonishing"?
They are similar but not exact synonyms, with "astonishing" implying an even greater level of surprise.
How do you form a superlative in English?
Add "-est" to short adjectives, or use "most" or "least" before longer ones.
Is "amazing" appropriate in professional contexts?
It can be used professionally if the context requires enthusiastic or positive feedback.
Do superlatives always end in "-est"?
No, some superlatives use "most" or "least" before the adjective, like "most beautiful."
Can superlatives apply to actions?
Yes, phrases like "performed best" or "ran fastest" are examples of superlatives in action.
Can "amazing" be used ironically?
Yes, "amazing" can be used ironically to describe something not genuinely impressive.
Can "superlative" refer to negative traits?
Yes, it can refer to extreme degrees of negative traits, such as "worst."
Does "superlative" always mean 'the best'?
Not necessarily, as it can also mean 'the worst,' depending on the comparison.
Is "amazing" commonly used in writing?
Yes, "amazing" is widely used in both informal and formal writing to describe something impressive.
Is "amazing" suitable for describing people?
Yes, it's suitable when highlighting their impressive qualities.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
