not any better

USAGE SUMMARY

"not any better" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that a situation has not improved, or when you want to express that something has not improved and is not likely to improve. For example: "John's health has not been getting any better since his accident."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I'm not any better than anybody else.

The New York Times - Sports

"I'm not any better than they are," he said.

The New York Times

Topol cautioned that, with our present technology, genetic information is not "any better than traditional risk factors" in identifying individuals who will develop diabetes (6).

Diabetes Care

And 2009 was not any better.

The New York Times - Sports

Leaf's second season was not any better.

The New York Times - Sports

The news for Democrats is not any better.

The New York Times

But Jeremy Corbyn's response was not any better really.

Independent

But that team was not any better, until 1969.

The New York Times - Sports

Not any better than we have, I'll bet.

The Guardian - Opinion

"We're not any better than the medieval doctors and their leeches".

The New Yorker

States are not any better situated to pony up their share.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "not any better", ensure the context clearly establishes what is being compared and why there is no improvement. Be specific to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "not any better" without specifying what you are comparing. For example, instead of saying "The situation is not any better", specify "The situation in the market is not any better than it was last quarter."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not any better" functions as a comparative adjective phrase, typically used to express that a situation, condition, or object has not improved or is not superior to something else. As Ludwig indicates, it correctly conveys a lack of progress or advantage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not any better" is a grammatically sound and usable expression that indicates a lack of improvement or superiority. As confirmed by Ludwig, it effectively conveys disappointment or a stagnant state. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts, with a neutral register appropriate for various settings. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying what is being compared. Alternative phrases like "no better" or "unchanged" can be used for similar effect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

no better

Shorter and more direct way of saying something is not improved.

not one bit better

Adds emphasis to the lack of improvement.

not improved

Focuses specifically on the lack of positive change.

unchanged

Highlights the absence of any alteration, positive or negative.

no different

Emphasizes the lack of distinction or variation.

no superior

Directly indicates absence of advantages between options.

as bad as before

Highlights a negative state by comparing to a previous one.

equally poor

Highlights that two things are at the same low level.

just as bad

Focuses on the sustained negative aspect.

of equal mediocrity

Expresses the shared state of being average or underwhelming

FAQs

What does "not any better" mean?

The phrase "not any better" means that something has not improved or that one thing is not superior to another. It suggests a lack of positive change or distinction.

How can I use "not any better" in a sentence?

You can use "not any better" to compare situations or objects where improvement is expected but hasn't occurred. For example, "His health is "no better" after the treatment than it was before".

What's a synonym for "not any better"?

Synonyms for "not any better" include "no different", "unchanged", or "no improvement". These phrases express a similar lack of positive change or distinction.

Is it correct to say "not any good" instead of "not any better"?

While "not any good" implies something is unsatisfactory, "not any better" specifically indicates a lack of improvement from a previous state or a lack of superiority between options. They are similar, but their specific uses vary.