Cool MateExtraordinary vs Impressive
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Extraordinary
Top 2,000 (common)B2adjective
Impressive
Top 2,000 (common)B1adjective
| Extraordinary | Impressive | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪkˈstrɔːdnri/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪkˈstrɔːrdəneri/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪmˈpresɪv/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪmˈpresɪv/"]/ |
| Meaning | very unusual or remarkable | Something that makes you feel admiration or respect. |
| Example | Her performance was nothing short of extraordinary, captivating the entire audience. | The magician's tricks were truly impressive and left everyone in awe. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | B1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective |
| Collocations | appear, be, feel, most, really, truly | be, look, seem, extremely, fairly, very |
| Antonyms | ordinary, common, usual | unimpressive, ordinary, unremarkable |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'ordinary', thinking they are similar., Using inappropriately in very casual chats; feels too formal., Mispronouncing the word, especially the 'extra-' part. | Confusing with 'impressing' which is a verb form., Using it in a negative context mistakenly., Incorrectly placing it before the noun without an article. |
| Usage notes | Use 'extraordinary' to describe something very special or impressive. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but try to avoid it in everyday casual conversations. | Use 'impressive' to describe something that stands out or makes a strong positive impact. It's appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, but may sound less natural in casual settings where simpler words might work better. |
Frequently asked questions: Extraordinary vs Impressive
What's the difference between Extraordinary and Impressive?
Extraordinary: very unusual or remarkable Impressive: Something that makes you feel admiration or respect.
Are Extraordinary and Impressive the same CEFR level?
Extraordinary: B2, Impressive: B1 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Extraordinary and Impressive interchangeably?
Not always. Extraordinary and Impressive are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.