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Incomparable vs Incompatible - What's the difference?

incomparable | incompatible |

As adjectives the difference between incomparable and incompatible

is that incomparable is so much better than another as to be beyond comparison; matchless or unsurpassed while incompatible is of two things: that cannot coexist; not congruous because of differences; irreconcilable; disagreeing.

As a noun incompatible is

an incompatible substance; one of a group of things that cannot be placed or used together because of a change of chemical composition or opposing medicinal qualities.

incomparable

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • So much better than another as to be beyond comparison; matchless or unsurpassed.
  • * , De Profundis , (1909), Robert Baldwin Ross, ed., page 112:
    • I know of nothing in all drama more incomparable from the point of view of art, nothing more suggestive in its subtlety of observation, than Shakespeare's drawing of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
  • (rare) Not able to be compared.

    • Usage notes

    * Using (more)'' or ''(most)'' with ''incomparable , though often disapproved, is relatively common. Such uses may once have only been accepted for poetic effect, but are now widespread. * Despite its apparently absolute meaning, incomparable'' is often used as if there were degrees of incomparability, occurring with adverbs such as ''(so)'' and ''(very) .

    Derived terms

    * incomparability

    Related terms

    * comparable * uncomparable

    incompatible

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Of two things: that cannot coexist; not congruous because of differences; irreconcilable; disagreeing.
  • (chemistry) Incapable of being together without mutual reaction or decomposition, as certain medicines.

    • Antonyms

    * compatible

    Derived terms

    * incompatibly * incompatibility

    See also

    * incombinable * uncombinable * ununifiable * antagonistic * antipodal * contrastive

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (medicine, chemistry, chiefly, in the plural) An incompatible substance; one of a group of things that cannot be placed or used together because of a change of chemical composition or opposing medicinal qualities.
    • the incompatibles of iron
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