No, I can no longer allow you to upstage me!
Source: tatoeba (8969116)
Upstage
/ʌpˈsteɪd͡ʒ/
Synonyms for "upstage" (90 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (18)
Strong matches (27)
Adjective(1 words)
domineeringdown leftdown rightdownstagedremoteemotionalizeget top billinghaughtyhigh flownhigh-falutinghigh-flownhigh-hathigh-headedhigh-nosedhighfalutinhoity toityhoity-toityin the limelightlofty
Show 4 more words
Noun(1 words)
Verb(1 words)
Related words (45)
Noun(13 words)
ostentatiousoutperformoutshineovershadowposteriorpretentiousrear stage arearearwardshow upshowystolesurpassupstage region
Verb(1 words)
steal someone's thunder
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: act, act as foil, aloof, appear, arrogant.
- Sentence evidence is available for upstage, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "upstage".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "upstage"
Keep "upstage" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "upstage" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "upstage", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "upstage" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
17 entriesShowing 16 of 17 words.
More specific
13 entriesblock viewdominancedramaticpreeminencesteal spotlightsuperioritytheatricalupstage centerupstage center areaupstage leftupstage left areaupstage rightupstage right area
Collocations
12 entriesgo upstagemove upstageupstage a rivalupstage areaupstage blockingupstage centerupstage leftupstage lightingupstage performanceupstage positionupstage rightupstage someone
Inflections
5 entriesDerivations
3 entriesAntonyms
2 entriessimilar
1 entriesSample sentences
9 total sentences available.
The actor turned and walked upstage.
Source: wiktionary
The minimalist play used no upstage scenery.
Source: wiktionary
If she hasn't time for this or that, if she refuses to make or keep appointments, if her face does not greet all comers with a sweet and charming smile, then the word is passed around that ‘So-and-So is getting high-hat and up-stage.’
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 9 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "upstage"?
Closest matches include act, act as foil, aloof, appear, arrogant.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "upstage"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.