unmatched

Meanings

1. 1adjectivenot comparable

   So good or great that nothing else can equal it.

   Grammar: Often followed by by or in: unmatched by any rival, unmatched in quality.

   Patterns

   • unmatched by something
   • unmatched in something
   • be unmatched for something

   The chef's skill in pastry is unmatched in this city.

   Her speed on the track was unmatched by any other runner.

   The hotel offers unmatched views of the harbor.

2. 2adjectivebefore a noun

   Not forming a pair with something similar, or lacking a partner that goes with it.

   Grammar: Describes physical items or data that have no counterpart: unmatched socks.

   Patterns

   • unmatched + noun

   I found a drawer full of unmatched socks.

   The computer flagged the unmatched records for review.

Common combinations

unmatched quality

The shop sells fabric of unmatched quality.

unmatched by any

Her talent is unmatched by any of her classmates.

unmatched in size

The stadium is unmatched in size across the region.

unmatched skill

He plays the violin with unmatched skill.

unmatched socks

Unmatched socks are piling up beside the washing machine.

Synonyms and how they differ

unrivaled

Unrivaled stresses having no competitor, while unmatched stresses nothing being equal in quality.

unparalleled

Unparalleled is a little more formal and suggests there is nothing comparable at all.

peerless

Peerless is literary and describes someone who stands above all others.

unequaled

Unequaled is nearly identical in meaning but is used more with achievements and records.

Opposites

Word family

match verb

to be equal to or go with something

match noun

a person or thing equal to another, or a sports contest

matched adjective

paired or equal

matchless adjective

without an equal (literary)

Commonly confused: unmatched or mismatched?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “unmatched”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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