absolutely indistinguishable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "absolutely indistinguishable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe two or more things that cannot be differentiated from one another in any way. Example: "The two identical twins were absolutely indistinguishable from each other, even to their closest friends."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

In the longer and less explicit commercials in which these images are encased, the male certainly doesn't seem to have a tongue — perhaps one may say that the cat's got it; father knows best, these days, only in politics, which is the only place we ever find him, and where he proves to be — alas! — absolutely indistinguishable from the American boy.

The New Yorker

In order to guarantee individuation, no two objects can then be absolutely indistinguishable, or indiscernible, in the sense of possessing exactly the same set of properties.

SEP

Intuitively, the following two scenarios should be absolutely indistinguishable: 1) securely computing f by realizing a protocol, and 2) privately sending their private inputs to a trusted third party, who then computes f and privately returns the outputs to each party.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

However, this approach has been criticised on the grounds (among others) that we can surely conceive of two absolutely indistinguishable objects: thinking of Star Trek, we could imagine a replicator device which precisely reproduces an object, such as a coin or even a person, giving two such objects exactly the same set of properties.

SEP

And still others refer to it as "switched world skepticism" or "possible world skepticism" because the arguments for it typically involve imagining oneself to be in some possible world that is both vastly different from the actual world and at the same time absolutely indistinguishable (at least by us) from the actual world.

SEP

The Capitol housed only 40 or so people of "genuine intelligence," Mencken maintained; the rest were "absolutely indistinguishable … from a convention of garage keepers".

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Arthur C. Clarke no doubt had something incredibly nerdy in mind when he said "any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic," but what it implies for musicians is absolutely true.

The New York Times

We have previously reported that wus-1 jba-1D meristems are indistinguishable from wus-1 meristems (Williams et al., 2005), indicating that WUS activity is absolutely required to obtain the jba SAM phenotypes.

Development (Cambridge)

At present, all β-glucans are indistinguishable in dynamics and hydration, but among the three types of β-glucans, β-1,3-glucan absolutely has more pronounced interactions with other molecules, in particular, with α-1,3-glucan.

Nature

The Galleries reveal that the painting ("Magnificent...monumental...absolutely indistinguishable from the original") sells for $12, and the frame designed to hold it sells for $24.

The New Yorker

They were indistinguishable.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "absolutely indistinguishable" to emphasize a complete lack of any perceivable difference between two or more things. It is more emphatic than simply saying "indistinguishable".

Common error

While "absolutely indistinguishable" is valid, avoid stacking too many adverbs of degree (e.g., "completely, utterly, absolutely indistinguishable"), as it can sound redundant and weaken your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "absolutely indistinguishable" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase. It modifies a noun, emphasizing the complete lack of perceptible difference between the things being described. As Ludwig AI indicates, this usage is grammatically correct and commonly employed.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

50%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "absolutely indistinguishable" is a grammatically correct and valid way to describe items that are completely identical or impossible to differentiate. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and correctness. While not extremely common, it is found in various contexts, particularly in science, news media, and academia. When using this phrase, remember that it strongly emphasizes the lack of any discernible difference. Alternatives such as "completely identical" or "perfectly alike" may be suitable depending on the nuance you wish to convey. Be mindful of avoiding excessive adverbs of degree for a cleaner writing style.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely identical

Replaces "indistinguishable" with "identical" for a more direct emphasis on sameness.

perfectly alike

Uses "alike" instead of "indistinguishable", highlighting the absence of difference.

exactly the same

Highlights precise sameness, reinforcing the lack of any difference.

totally the same

Simplifies the language while retaining the core meaning of no discernible difference.

indistinguishable without exception

Adds the term of "without exception" to highlight the term indistinguishable.

entirely equivalent

Emphasizes functional equivalence rather than just visual similarity.

virtually identical

Adds a nuance of near-perfect similarity, acknowledging a slight possibility of difference.

wholly alike

Replaces "perfectly" with "wholly" to emphasize the term alike.

precisely equivalent

Emphasizes the equivalence, not just an approximation.

unquestionably identical

Emphasizes the certainty of the identical nature of things.

FAQs

How can I use "absolutely indistinguishable" in a sentence?

You can use "absolutely indistinguishable" to describe things that are impossible to tell apart. For example: "The two copies were "absolutely indistinguishable", making it impossible to determine the original."

What are some alternatives to "absolutely indistinguishable"?

Some alternatives include "completely identical", "perfectly alike", or "totally the same". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it redundant to say "absolutely indistinguishable"?

While "indistinguishable" already implies a high degree of similarity, "absolutely indistinguishable" emphasizes the complete lack of any difference, making it suitable when you want to stress this point.

What's the difference between "indistinguishable" and "absolutely indistinguishable"?

"Indistinguishable" means difficult or impossible to tell apart. "Absolutely indistinguishable" intensifies this, meaning there is no way to differentiate them, even with careful examination.