Unusual vs Incomparable - What's the difference?

unusual | incomparable | Related terms |

As adjectives the difference between unusual and incomparable

is that unusual is unlike what is expected; differing in some way from the norm while incomparable is so much better than another as to be beyond comparison; matchless or unsurpassed.

unusual

English

Alternative forms

* unusuall (obsolete)

Adjective

(en adjective)

Unlike what is expected; differing in some way from the norm.

, title=(The Celebrity), chapter=2 , passage=I had occasion […] to make a somewhat long business trip to Chicago, and on my return […] I found Farrar awaiting me in the railway station. He smiled his wonted fraction by way of greeting, […], and finally leading me to his buggy, turned and drove out of town. I was completely mystified at such an unusual proceeding.}}

Not usual.

Synonyms

* (different from the expected) abnormal, rare, strange, weird, (stronger) extraordinary ** See also

Antonyms

* (different from the expected) normal, usual

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