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par excellence
adjective
par ex·cel·lence
ˈpär-ˌek-sə-ˈläns
ˈpär-ˌek-sə-ˈläⁿs
: being the best of a kind : preeminent
a chef par excellence
Synonyms
- A-OK
- A1
- awesome
- bang-up
- banner
- beautiful
- blue-chip
- blue-ribbon
- boffo
- bonny [chiefly British]
- bonnie
- boss [slang]
- brag
- brave
- bully
- bumper
- capital
- choice
- classic
- cool [slang]
- corking
- crackerjack
- cracking
- dandy
- divine
- dope [slang]
- down [slang]
- dynamite
- excellent
- fab
- fabulous
- famous
- fantabulous [slang]
- fantastic
- fine
- first-class
- first-rate
- first-string
- five-star
- four-star
- frontline
- gangbusters
- gangbuster
- gilt-edged
- gilt-edge
- gone [slang]
- grand
- great
- groovy
- heavenly
- high-class
- hot
- hype [slang]
- immense
- jim-dandy
- keen
- lovely
- marvelous
- marvellous
- mean
- neat
- nifty
- noble
- number one
- No. 1
- numero uno
- out-of-sight [slang]
- peachy
- peachy keen
- phat [slang]
- prime
- primo [slang]
- prize
- prizewinning
- quality
- radical [slang]
- righteous [slang]
- sensational
- slick
- splendid
- stellar
- sterling
- superb
- superior
- superlative
- supernal
- swell
- terrific
- tip-top
- top
- top-notch
- top-of-the-line
- top-shelf
- topflight
- topping [chiefly British]
- unsurpassed
- wizard [chiefly British]
- wonderful
Examples of par excellence in a Sentence
sophisticated cuisine that is obviously the work of a chef par excellence
Recent Examples on the Web
Lloyd Bentsen was the Democrats’ vice presidential candidate par excellence in 1988.
—Jeremy Lott, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 9 Aug. 2024
Just look at Italy: after the premiership of Mario Draghi, the technocrat par excellence, the country elected its most far-right government since Benito Mussolini.
—Christian Edwards, CNN, 8 July 2024
Crawford is an inveterate collector, a hunter-gatherer par excellence, and her home is a testament to decades spent amassing oddities and objets de vertu of every stripe.
—Mayer Rus, Architectural Digest, 28 June 2024
Exuberant and explosive, Real Americans is a social novel par excellence that asks: Are we destined, or made, and if so, who gets to do the making?
—Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 1 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for par excellence
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'par excellence.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
French, literally, by excellence
First Known Use
1695, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near par excellence
Cite this Entry
“Par excellence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/par%20excellence. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
Kids Definition
par excellence
adverb or adjective
par ex·cel·lence
ˌpär-ˌek-sə-ˈläns
: in the highest degree : above all others
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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