nearly impeccable

USAGE SUMMARY

"nearly impeccable" is an appropriate phrase to use in written English.
This phrase can be used to describe something that is almost perfect, but has one or two minor flaws. For example: "The presentation was nearly impeccable, but the speaker stumbled on a few of the words."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Arts

Technology

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

He speaks nearly impeccable Spanish.

The New York Times

And the Lumix's photos are nearly impeccable.

The New York Times - Tech

The fault was not in the ensemble work, which was very nearly impeccable.

The New York Times - Arts

In his first two starts, he pitched 12 nearly impeccable innings, giving up only two runs.

The New York Times - Sports

Pathfinders are assembled in Kyushu, Japan, and the workmanship on the test vehicles was nearly impeccable.

The New York Times

Houston has also cultivated a nearly impeccable résumé off the court, earning sportsmanship awards and community-service accolades.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

The venerable 605-room Westin Chosun Seoul, known for its gracious, nearly-impeccable service standards and central location, has been around since 1914 in many iterations, the latest being a modern 20-storey building.

BBC

He is short and muscular, with a monkish circle of salt-and-pepper hair framing a nearly bald head; impeccable, slightly bookish English; and a resiliently sunny disposition that staggers and humbles me when I think about the upheavals -- Japan's invasion of China, the Chinese revolution, the Cultural Revolution, emigration to America -- that Mr. Wen has had to negotiate in his 73 years.

The New York Times - Arts

Their playing was not impeccable, but nearly so, and the natural dramatic finish to which this symphony comes was blasted out with jubilance-inducing excellence.

Forbes

Sally Fields's performance, like nearly everybody else's, is impeccable.

The New Yorker

Trump insists the response to Hurricane Maria was impeccable, even though nearly 3,000 people died.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "nearly impeccable", ensure that the context allows for minor imperfections. It's best suited for describing things that are of very high quality but not absolutely flawless.

Common error

Avoid using "nearly impeccable" when describing something that is genuinely flawed. This phrase should be reserved for cases where the imperfections are truly minor and do not detract significantly from the overall quality.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nearly impeccable" functions as a compound adjective that modifies a noun. It describes the quality of something as being close to perfect, but not entirely so. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its use across different contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Sports

15%

Arts

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Science

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "nearly impeccable" is a useful phrase for describing something that is very close to perfect but has minor flaws. According to Ludwig, this expression is grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts, particularly in news, sports, and the arts. The phrase strikes a balance between acknowledging excellence and admitting imperfections. As a compound adjective, it effectively conveys a sense of high quality without claiming absolute flawlessness. Remember to avoid using it for things that are clearly flawed, reserving it for genuinely high-quality items with slight issues.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost flawless

Emphasizes the absence of flaws, suggesting a very high level of perfection. It changes the adjective while retaining a similar structure.

virtually perfect

Highlights the closeness to perfection, indicating that any imperfections are negligible. The adjective is transformed to a similar term.

close to perfect

Directly states proximity to perfection, using a more literal and less figurative expression. This is less formal.

practically faultless

Stresses the lack of faults, suggesting a high degree of accuracy or quality. The term used is a synonym for flawless.

exceptionally good

Focuses on the high quality, implying that it is better than average but doesn't explicitly mention imperfections. Changes structure, replacing "impeccable" with "good".

remarkably accurate

Highlights the accuracy aspect, suitable when referring to data, measurements or similar contexts. Changes the emphasis of the quality.

near perfection

Emphasizes the proximity to the state of perfection, used as a noun. This phrase is more abstract.

almost immaculate

Uses a different adjective suggesting extreme cleanliness and purity, implying a lack of flaws. A more metaphorical expression.

approaching perfection

Implies a dynamic process of becoming perfect, rather than a static state. A more dynamic structure.

borderline ideal

Suggests something is almost at an ideal level, often used when describing standards or benchmarks. This term may be less formal.

FAQs

How can I use "nearly impeccable" in a sentence?

You can use "nearly impeccable" to describe something that is almost perfect but has a few minor flaws. For example, "The chef's technique was "nearly impeccable", with just a slight overuse of salt."

What's the difference between "nearly impeccable" and "perfect"?

"Perfect" implies flawlessness, while "nearly impeccable" suggests a very high standard with minor imperfections. If something is truly without any faults, "perfect" is more appropriate. If there are minor flaws, then use ""nearly impeccable"".

Which is more appropriate: "nearly impeccable" or "almost flawless"?

Both ""nearly impeccable"" and "almost flawless" are suitable for describing something with very few faults. "Nearly impeccable" might be preferred in more formal contexts, while "almost flawless" is more commonly used.

Are there situations where using "nearly impeccable" might be inappropriate?

Yes, it would be inappropriate to use "nearly impeccable" if describing something with significant or numerous flaws. The phrase is best reserved for situations where the subject is of a very high standard, with only minor and almost unnoticeable imperfections. For example, when something is terrible you shouldn't use ""nearly impeccable"".