an unparalleled

USAGE SUMMARY

'an unparalleled' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is an adjective which means without equal or unequaled. Example sentence: His ambition and wisdom is an unparalleled quality among his peers.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It's an unparalleled body of sound".

The New York Times - Sports

It is an unparalleled guilt!

The New York Times - Arts

Schubert had an unparalleled melodic gift.

The New York Times - Arts

"Cinderella Skeleton" is, thankfully, an unparalleled experience.

The New York Times - Books

It was an unparalleled cast of characters".

The Guardian - Music

Sondra had an unparalleled zest for life.

The New York Times

The event is an unparalleled fashion spectacle.

The New York Times - Style

They have an unparalleled track record in integrating their acquisitions".

The New York Times

It is an unparalleled experience you can't get anywhere else".

The New York Times

Mr Tatchell's result was an unparalleled humiliation for his party.

The Guardian

"We're facing a phenomenon on an unparalleled scale".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Reserve this phrase for formal writing, journalism, or high-stakes business communications to maintain its impact; overusing it in casual contexts can diminish its perceived weight.

Common error

Do not use gradable adverbs like "very", "highly", or "extremely" before "an unparalleled". Since the word itself means without equal, it is an absolute adjective and cannot be possessed in degrees. Saying "a very unparalleled success" is logically inconsistent.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an unparalleled" functions as an adjective phrase consisting of an indefinite article and a superlative adjective. It typically serves as an attributive modifier, appearing directly before a noun to assign it a quality of being without equal. In the linguistic data provided by Ludwig, it is frequently used to quantify the scale of events or the depth of expertise.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "an unparalleled" is a robust and sophisticated tool for any writer looking to denote extreme uniqueness or superiority. According to Ludwig AI and the supporting data, it is a perfectly correct and widely utilized expression in the most prestigious English-speaking publications. Whether describing "an unparalleled opportunity" in a business context or "an unparalleled scale" in scientific research, the phrase remains a hallmark of high-level communication. It functions best as an absolute adjective, meaning it should not be paired with comparative adverbs like "more" or "very". Its prevalence in sources like The New York Times and various academic journals confirms its status as a reliable staple of professional and academic registers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an unrivaled

Focuses more on the lack of competition or challengers in a specific field.

an unmatched

Suggests that nothing of similar quality or scale has been found to compare with it.

an unsurpassed

Implies that no better version or higher level has ever been reached.

an incomparable

Stresses that the quality is so high it cannot even be measured against others.

a peerless

A more literary or formal term suggesting the subject has no equals (peers).

a matchless

Often used in poetic or highly descriptive contexts to indicate unique excellence.

a second to none

An idiomatic expression emphasizing that the subject is at the very top of its class.

a unique

A broader term that simply means one of a kind, without the inherent 'superiority' of unparalleled.

a nonpareil

A sophisticated, slightly archaic noun or adjective meaning having no match.

a beyond compare

A phrasal adjective used to describe something so excellent it defies comparison.

FAQs

How do I use "an unparalleled" in a sentence?

You use it as an adjective before a noun to show something is the best of its kind. For example: "The library offers <a href="/s/an+unparalleled+resource" target="_blank" rel="alternative">an unparalleled resource for historians."

Should I use "a" or "an" before unparalleled?

You should always use "an" because the word starts with a vowel sound ('un'). Using "a" would be grammatically incorrect.

What is the difference between "unparalleled" and "unrivaled"?

While very similar, "unparalleled" often refers to a lack of historical precedent, whereas <a href="/s/an+unrivaled" target="_blank" rel="alternative">an unrivaled usually suggests a lack of current competition.

What can I say instead of "an unparalleled"?

Depending on your context, you could use <a href="/s/an+unmatched" target="_blank" rel="alternative">an unmatched, <a href="/s/an+unsurpassed" target="_blank" rel="alternative">an unsurpassed, or <a href="/s/a+peerless" target="_blank" rel="alternative">a peerless.