inimitable means beyond imitation, surpassing all others; matchless. It carries an Arena rating of 1718, earned across 5 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, inimitable ranks #2,287 of 17,113 for Most Elegant Words, #4,241 of 17,111 for Most Sublime Words, #4,331 of 17,125 for Most Incisive Words, #8,548 of 17,122 for Most Betrayed by Its Sound.
inimitable is pronounced /ɪnˈɪmɪtəbl̩/.
Why “inimitable” is a great word
Impossible to imitate or copy; matchless and unique. From Middle French *inimitable*, from Latin *inimitabilis*, from *in-* ("not") + *imitabilis* ("imitable"), first attested in English in the late fifteenth century. Unlike "unique" (which suggests solitary existence) or "incomparable" (which declares a standard beyond measure), "inimitable" speaks to the act of attempted reproduction and its certain failure. It is the particular lilt of a jazz singer's voice at 3 a.m., the effortless brushstroke in a masterpiece that forgeries fatally lack, and the singular character that makes a life’s work a continent unto itself—a quiet testament to the fact that the highest achievement is not just to be original, but to remain, forever, uncopied.
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French inimitable, from Latin inimitabilis, corresponding to in- + imitable.
adj
- Beyond imitation, surpassing all others; matchless.
Words closest in meaning
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