peerless

USAGE SUMMARY

'peerless' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is used to describe something that is so extraordinary or of such a high quality that it cannot be compared to anything else. For example, "The singer's voice was peerless, and no one has been able to match it since."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Yet the technology they use to trade is peerless.

The Economist

As for Intel, its manufacturing machine is peerless.

The Economist

The sporty looks of the gray tabby are peerless.

Britannica

The Australian batting line up is all over the place, lacking an established opening partnership, no fixed abode for Shane Watson and a skipper in Michael Clarke who is peerless at five but frequently exposed at four.

Independent

Thus we spray-painted terrible puns onto bed sheets (oh look, another "Declaration of Waugh") and hoisted them in the air as banners, we slapped on our terry toweling hats, we bought the souvenir tour guides and Channel Nine propaganda pamphlets - still walking away with change from a $10 note – and marvelled in the peerless humour of calling Richard Hadlee a wanker all day.

The Guardian - Sport

But he was reassured by the director's reputation and by the presence of a peerless supporting cast.

The Guardian - Film

Karanka boasts the peerless experience of having assisted José Mourinho at Real Madrid but McCarthy possesses the invaluable "been there, done it" badge of actually winning two promotions to the Premier League.

The Guardian - Sport

I don't need to be armed with a telescope or up a mountain – I simply sit on my terrace and marvel at the peerless Chilean night sky.

The Guardian - Travel

The third of Potter's peerless quartet, the others being Gamesmanship, Lifemanship and Supermanship – all very well conflated in the Alastair Sim film School for Scoundrels.

The Guardian - Books

On the night Germany beat the Dutch, his analysis of the incident was peerless and priceless.

The Guardian - Sport

Hopcraft is probably best known for his peerless book The Football Man: People and Passions in Soccer, which documented the life of the game in the 1960s.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "peerless" to describe achievements, qualities, or skills that truly stand out. It adds emphasis and sophistication to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "peerless" to describe ordinary or common attributes. This dilutes the impact and makes your writing sound hyperbolic. Save it for truly exceptional cases.

Linguistic Context

The word "peerless" functions primarily as an adjective. It modifies nouns to indicate that they are without equal or unmatched in quality, skill, or any other attribute. As shown by Ludwig, the adjective is often used before nouns to describe exceptional qualities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Encyclopedias

8%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "peerless" is an adjective used to describe something of unmatched quality or skill. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and highlights its frequent use in News & Media and Encyclopedias. While it effectively emphasizes uniqueness, it should be reserved for truly exceptional cases to avoid diluting its impact. Alternatives like "unrivaled" or "incomparable" can be used depending on the specific context. As Ludwig AI highlights, the word is suitable for use in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unrivaled

Focuses on the absence of competitors or equals.

matchless

Emphasizes the inability to find something similar in quality.

unmatched

Highlights the lack of comparison in a specific skill or quality.

incomparable

Stresses the impossibility of comparing due to exceptional quality.

nonpareil

Uses a French term to denote having no equal.

second to none

Indicates being the best, with no other entity surpassing it.

without equal

Directly states the absence of anything measuring up.

unsurpassed

Highlights that something has not been exceeded in quality or achievement.

par excellence

Implies being the best of its kind.

the best of the best

Emphasizes the phrase's position at the very pinnacle of quality.

FAQs

How can I use "peerless" in a sentence?

You can use "peerless" to describe something that has no equal. For example, "The athlete's skill was peerless, setting a new standard for the sport".

What can I say instead of "peerless"?

You can use alternatives like "unrivaled", "matchless", or "incomparable" depending on the specific context.

Is "peerless" a formal word?

Yes, "peerless" is considered a formal word and is best suited for professional, academic, or news-related contexts.

What is the difference between "peerless" and "excellent"?

"Excellent" describes something of very high quality, while "peerless" suggests something that is not only excellent but also unmatched or unique.