inimitable
adjective
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How Should You Use inimitable?
Something that is inimitable is, literally, not able to be imitated. In actual usage the word describes things so uniquely extraordinary as to not be copied or equaled, which is why you often hear it used to praise outstanding talents or performances (or uniquely talented and incomparable individuals). (The less common antonym imitable describes things that are common or ordinary and could easily be replicated.) Inimitable comes, via Middle English, from the Latin adjective inimitabilis. Be careful not to confuse it with inimical or inimicable, two adjectives meaning “hostile” or “harmful”; those words come from a different Latin root.
Examples of inimitable in a Sentence
Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 4 Feb. 2025
The metal shift gate and heavy clutch remind the driver that this is a Ferrari after all, as does the inimitable pitch of the engine revving to its 7,500 rpm redline.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 14 Feb. 2025
Her cheeks were glowing with the inimitable rosy flush that launched a thousand makeup tutorials.
—Abby Aguirre, Vogue, 11 Feb. 2025
The actor took to the streets of Paris to carry the event’s iconic flame in his inimitable style ahead of the event’s opening ceremony.
—Raven Brunner, People.com, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inimitable
Cite this Entry
“Inimitable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inimitable. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
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inimitable
adjective
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