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Synonyms

ne plus ultra

American  
[nee pluhs uhl-truh, ney, ne ploos ool-trah] / ˈni ˌplʌs ˈʌl trə, ˈneɪ, ˈnɛ ˌplʊs ˈʊl trɑ /

noun

  1. the highest point; acme.

  2. the most intense degree of a quality or state.


ne plus ultra British  
/ ˈneɪ ˈplʊs ˈʊltrɑː /

noun

  1. the extreme or perfect point or state

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of ne plus ultra

1690–1700; < New Latin, Latin nē plūs ultrā (may you) not (go) further beyond (this point)

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.

See Examples For:

The peloton’s ne plus ultra, the increasingly-presumed GOAT, the Slovenian once more ignited the last day by launching ferocious attacks and turning a quiet celebratory ride into glorious mayhem.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 27, 2026

The ne plus ultra, though, was the Bullocks Wilshire tea room.

From Los Angeles Times Dec. 14, 2021

Here is a top-notch Italian bubbly and a sublime grower champagne that shows why that region is the ne plus ultra of sparkling wine.

From Washington Post Dec. 2, 2021

And “Prisoners of War” is pretty much the ne plus ultra of the genre.

From New York Times Mar. 25, 2020

Indeed, we all felt strongly convinced, that steam navigation is the ne plus ultra of travelling at sea.

From Rambles by Land and Water or Notes of Travel in Cuba and Mexico by B. M. Norman

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