incomparable
Americanadjective
-
beyond comparison; matchless or unequaled.
incomparable beauty.
- Synonyms:
- inimitable, unrivaled, peerless
-
not comparable; incapable of being compared to each other, as two unlike objects or qualities, or to one or more others.
adjective
-
beyond or above comparison; matchless; unequalled
-
lacking a basis for comparison; not having qualities or features that can be compared
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of incomparable
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English word from Latin word incomparābilis. See in- 3, comparable
Explanation
Something incomparable cannot be compared to anything else. Incomparable is usually a compliment for people and achievements that are extraordinary. When we compare things, we notice similarities and differences between them. However, when something is incomparable, comparison is impossible because what you're talking about is so amazing. You might say that the paintings of Picasso are incomparable masterpieces or that the Grand Canyon is an incomparable sight. People do tend to exaggerate, but this word should be reserved for the truly outstanding.
Vocabulary lists containing incomparable
Letters to a Young Poet
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"Wilderness Letter"
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The Turn of the Screw
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
And on that basis, what he’s doing is incomparable to the many capital renewals of his predecessors.
From Slate • May 18, 2026
The movie will tell the "incredible story of the magnificent, incomparable" dancer and singer, its producers said at the Cannes Film Festival, which starts Tuesday.
From Barron's • May 12, 2026
Every year Dr. Seuss Day is celebrated on 2 March, the date the incomparable icon of literature was born in 1904.
From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026
The new creations entered the repertory amid a number of authoritative performances of tried and true ballets—mostly by the troupe’s incomparable founding choreographer George Balanchine.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 9, 2026
Hastings passed both speed and malevolence down to his son Fair Play, who in turn bequeathed it to his incomparable son, Man o’ War.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
