Meaning & use
comparatively better
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Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
Better than something else when the two are compared, though not necessarily good in general.
Grammar: Used after a linking verb or before a noun: The results are comparatively better / a comparatively better outcome.
Patterns
- be comparatively better
- a comparatively better something
After the changes, the service was comparatively better, but customers still complained.
This year's profits are comparatively better than last year's, but they are still low.
She felt comparatively better after taking the medicine, though she was not fully recovered.
phrasefixed phrase
Somewhat better, to a moderate degree, when measured against a standard.
Grammar: Often used to soften a judgment: not 'much better', just 'comparatively better'.
Patterns
- comparatively better than something
The new model is comparatively better than the old one, but it is still not the best on the market.
His second attempt was comparatively better, yet he did not pass the exam.
Common combinations
- comparatively better than
- The weather today is comparatively better than yesterday.
- comparatively better off
- After the raise, they were comparatively better off, but still careful with money.
- comparatively better performance
- The team showed a comparatively better performance in the second half.
- feel comparatively better
- I feel comparatively better today, but I'm not back to normal.
Synonyms and how they differ
- relatively better
- Very similar, but 'relatively better' often emphasizes comparison with other things rather than a standard; they can often be used interchangeably.
- somewhat better
- Focuses on a small degree of improvement, not on comparison; 'comparatively better' always implies a comparison.
- marginally better
- Suggests a very small improvement, often barely noticeable; 'comparatively better' can be a larger difference.
Opposites
Commonly confused: comparatively better or comparative? comparatively better or comparable?
comparatively better vs comparative
As an adjective, 'comparative' means 'involving comparison' (e.g., a comparative study). 'Comparatively' is the adverb.
comparatively better vs comparable
Means 'similar enough to be compared', not 'better'. Do not confuse 'comparatively better' with 'comparable'.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'comparatively better' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option 0 correctly compares two things (new phone vs. old phone) and implies the new one is better but not absolutely good. Option 1 is awkward because 'comparatively better at math' would normally be 'better at math than her brother', and the comparison is not clearly between two alternatives. Option 2 compares coffee and tea, but 'comparatively better' usually compares like with like. Option 3 mixes different activities, so the comparison is unclear.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “comparatively better”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.