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
Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 13 Aug. 2025
That would be William Holden doing the honors and both he and Swanson were nominated for Oscars, along with Nancy Olson as Betty Schaefer, a script reader who falls for Gillis, and the inimitable Erich von Stroheim who plays Max, Desmond’s ex-husband and loyal butler.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 8 Aug. 2025
Mary Stallings When & where: 3 p.m. Aug. 9 at Montgomery Theater Stage
The skinny: On the cusp of turning 86, San Francisco jazz great Mary Stallings continues to defy the calendar, swinging with absolute authority while interpreting standards with her inimitable phrasing.
—Andrew Gilbert, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2025
By doing so, the publication has been able to reflect the exhilarating range of Black America and its innate creativity, all while documenting our inimitable style.
—Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 4 Aug. 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 19 Aug. 2025.
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inimitable
adjective
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