Peerless Meaning

/pˈɪrlɪs/
C1

Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

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adjWithout peer or equal; unparalleled, nonpareil. Of the highest quality, best.

Tom's knowledge of decomposition ecology is peerless.
They constructed therewith a peerless palace, which was of great beauty and of celestial make.
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
Her ____ voice made her win the singing competition without effort.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The violinist's ____ technique left the audience speechless at the end of the performance.

From Middle English pereles, perles; equivalent to peer + -less.

"Let's after him, / Whoſe care is gone before, to bid vs welcome: / It is a peerleſſe Kinſman." — c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iv], page 134:
"Having now seen himself mistaken in supposing Elfride to be peerless, nothing on earth could make him believe she was not so very bad after all." — 1872 September – 1873 July, Thomas Hardy, “‘XXXV’”, in A Pair of Blue Eyes. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: Tinsley Brothers, […], published 1873, →OCLC:
"After wearying oneself with the acres of stuffy, sappy, expressionless babies that populate the canvases of the Old Masters in Italy, it is refreshing to stand before this peerless child and feel that thrill which tells you you are at last in the presence of the real thing." — 1880, Mark Twain [pseudonym] (Samuel L[anghorne] Clemens), “”, in A Tramp Abroad; […], Hartford, Conn.: American Publishing Company; London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC, page 579:
"Telegram! Malachi Mulligan, The Ship, lower Abbey street. O, you peerless mummer! O, you priestified Kinchite!" — 1922 February, James Joyce, “[9]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company, […], →OCLC:
"“Would you go into the dragon's lair, my peerless Wiglaf?”" — 1961, Norma Lorre Goodrich, “Beowulf”, in The Medieval Myths, New York: The New American Library, page 47:

Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words

CEFR Practice Quiz
Her ____ voice made her win the singing competition without effort.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The violinist's ____ technique left the audience speechless at the end of the performance.

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