1 inimitable | Definition of inimitable

inimitable

adjective
in·​im·​i·​ta·​ble | \ (ËŒ)i-ˈni-mÉ™-tÉ™-bÉ™l How to pronounce inimitable (audio) \

Definition of inimitable

: not capable of being imitated : matchless her own inimitable style

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Other Words from inimitable

inimitableness noun
inimitably \ (ËŒ)i-​ˈni-​mÉ™-​tÉ™-​blÄ“ How to pronounce inimitably (audio) \ adverb

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. (The antonym "imitable" describes things that are common or ordinary and could easily be replicated or surpassed.) Inimitable derives via Middle English from Latin inimitabilis. Be careful not to confuse it with "inimical" or "inimicable," two adjectives meaning hostile or harmful; those words derive from the same Latin root that gave us "enemy" ("inimicus").

Examples of inimitable in a Sentence

an inimitable performer of violin solos

Recent Examples on the Web

Since breaking from her girl-group days with Fifth Harmony, the 23-year-old has made a name for herself as a solo artist whose inimitable sound has cultivated her an ardent fanbase. Vogue, "Get to Know the 8 Female Artists Nominated for Their First MTV VMAs," 26 Aug. 2019 Beth Eggers Himmelsfeld’s inimitable atmosphere rivals its acclaimed wines, owing largely to its resident flock of Romney sheep. Fortune, "New Zealand’s Hottest Destination Is One You’ve Likely Never Heard Of," 18 Aug. 2019 The inimitable Judy Roberts with the award-winning Greg Fishman join at 210 Live every Wednesday this summer. chicagotribune.com, "Calendar: Celebrate Harry Potter's birthday Wednesday in Lake Forest," 23 July 2019 For the inimitable Mimi, however, an icon known for being carried into her concerts and refusing anything but good light, undue physical exertion was clearly not an option. Cady Lang, Time, "Mariah Carey Proves She's the Ultimate Diva With Her #BottleCapChallenge," 8 July 2019 During the 2016 primaries, Trump, in his inimitable way, solved the same sort of publicity challenge currently faced by this year’s Democratic candidates. Peter Slevin, The New Yorker, "Don’t Worry About the Democratic Presidential Polls," 29 July 2019 The inimitable Dana Goodyear profiles the California senator and Democratic presidential candidate. Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, "Newsletter: Essential California Week in Review: Social media and a murder trial," 20 July 2019 Bubbi had an inimitable curiosity about all life had to offer, wanderlust, and sense of wonder…making even life's smallest moments into an adventure. courant.com, "Hildelore R. Duffy," 18 July 2019 This marks marks the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission, in which the inimitable Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first people to walk on the moon. Rex Crum, chicagotribune.com, "13 all-American movies to stream for Independence Day," 1 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'inimitable.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of inimitable

15th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for inimitable

Middle English, from Latin inimitabilis, from in- + imitabilis imitable

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More Definitions for inimitable

inimitable

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of inimitable

: impossible to copy or imitate

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