Is outstanding better than exceptional?

Is outstanding better than exceptional?
True, that is cheating. Of the adjectives, extraordinary is the one most often used for neutral or bad connotations while outstanding (in the sense mentioned in the OP) and exceptional are indeed almost always positive in the absence of qualifiers. Extraordinary on the other hand, is really quite often used negatively.

Reference:
meaning - Does 'extraordinary', 'exceptional', 'outstanding ...
Mar 7, 2015

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