pales in comparison

USAGE SUMMARY

"pales in comparison" is a commonly used phrase in written English.
It is used to describe something that is not as good as something else. For example, "The new project pales in comparison to our last successful venture."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

This recession pales in comparison.

The New Yorker

It's important, but pales in comparison.

The New York Times

Baseball's Black Sox scandal pales in comparison.

The New York Times - Sports

But that pales in comparison to this".

The New York Times

The local art scene pales in comparison.

The New York Times - Arts

It pales in comparison to gun violence.

The New Yorker

That crisis pales in comparison to what we're witnessing today.

The Guardian - Opinion

"What I did pales in comparison," Ligety said.

The New York Times - Sports

It pales in comparison with, say, Paweł Pawlikowski's Ida.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

The rest of the market pales in comparison.

TechCrunch

But his story pales in comparison to the winner's.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pales in comparison" to effectively highlight a significant difference in quality, importance, or impact between two subjects. Ensure the context clearly establishes what is being compared.

Common error

Avoid using "pales in comparison" when the subjects being compared are not directly related or lack a clear basis for comparison. Ensure that the context provides a logical connection between the items being contrasted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pales in comparison" functions as a comparative idiom, expressing that one thing is less significant, impressive, or important than another. It indicates a marked difference in quality, size, or impact. As Ludwig AI confirms, this expression is frequently used to draw a contrast.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "pales in comparison" is a common idiom used to express that something is less significant or impressive than another. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used in written English, primarily within news and media contexts. The phrase functions as a comparative tool, highlighting disparities in quality, importance, or impact. While "pales in comparison" is widely accepted and understood, alternatives such as "is overshadowed by" or "is insignificant compared to" may provide nuanced variations in meaning. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly establishes a logical connection between the subjects being compared to avoid misinterpretations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

bears no comparison to

Asserts that there is no valid way to compare two things because the difference is too great.

is insignificant compared to

Directly states the lack of importance of one thing when contrasted with another.

is dwarfed by

Highlights the difference in size or importance, with one thing being much smaller or less significant.

is overshadowed by

Focuses on the idea that one thing is hidden or diminished by the prominence of another.

cannot hold a candle to

Expresses that one thing is so inferior that it cannot even be compared to another.

doesn't measure up to

Emphasizes the failure of one thing to reach the standard or quality of another.

is a shadow of

Suggests that something is a weak or diminished version of something else.

is second-rate compared with

Indicates that something is of lower quality when compared to something else.

is a far cry from

Shows a significant difference or disparity between two things, implying one is much worse.

is nothing like

Emphasizes the dissimilarity between two things.

FAQs

How can I use "pales in comparison" in a sentence?

Use "pales in comparison" to show that one thing is much less significant or impressive than another. For example, "The local art scene "pales in comparison" to the high-end events in the city."

What are some alternatives to "pales in comparison"?

Alternatives include phrases like "is overshadowed by", "is insignificant compared to", or "doesn't measure up to", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always negative to say something "pales in comparison"?

Yes, using "pales in comparison" typically implies that something is deficient or lacks importance when compared to something else. It highlights a notable disparity, often in a negative way.

What's the difference between "bears no comparison to" and "pales in comparison"?

"Bears no comparison to" suggests there's almost no basis for comparing two things because they are so different. "Pales in comparison" implies that a comparison exists, but one thing is considerably weaker or less impressive than the other.