An exceptional synonym can do one of two jobs. As praise, try outstanding, remarkable, extraordinary or superb. For something that simply breaks the usual pattern, choose unusual, rare or uncommon, which carry no praise at all.
Confusing the two senses trips up many writers. An exceptional result is great news, but an exceptional case in a legal or medical note may only mean it is the odd one out. Read on for the full set, a strength strip, and a synonym for exceptional that suits reference letters, reviews and award notes.
Swatch at a glance
Best swaps
outstanding, remarkable, extraordinary, superbPart of speech
Adjective (adverb: exceptionally)Most formal
singular, prodigious, atypicalMost casual
top-notch, stellar, amazingStrongest
phenomenal, extraordinaryAntonyms
ordinary, average, mediocreWatch out
Exceptional and exceptionable are different words. Exceptionable means open to objection.
Each exceptional synonym by sense
| Sense | Good swaps | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Very high quality | outstanding, remarkable, superb | Her design work is outstanding. |
| Not the usual case | unusual, rare, atypical | Refunds are given only in rare cases. |
| Talent above others | gifted, accomplished, masterly | He is a gifted violinist. |
Before swapping, ask yourself whether you are praising or just noting that something is out of the norm. The answer decides the column.
Strong, stronger, strongest: the chip strip
Every word on the strip is already high praise. Impressive says the work caught your eye. Remarkable says it is worth talking about. Outstanding means it rises over everyone else in the group. Extraordinary goes past normal limits, and phenomenal is the loudest, best kept for rare peaks.
Exceptional itself sits near outstanding. If a whole report praises everything as phenomenal, the word loses force, so match the word to the real level of the work. The excellent synonyms page covers the next step down.
Rewrites you can borrow
- An exceptional student becomes an outstanding student.
- Exceptional care from the nursing staff becomes superb care from the nursing staff.
- This is an exceptional situation becomes this is an unusual situation.
- Her exceptional memory becomes her remarkable memory.
- An exceptional storm for this season becomes a rare storm for this season.
- The results were exceptional becomes the results were extraordinary.
Another word for exceptional in a reference or review
Reference letters lean on this word, so variety helps. Outstanding and first-rate sound confident. Remarkable works for a single quality, such as remarkable patience. For skills, highly skilled or accomplished sound earned rather than gushing. Back the word with a fact, and it lands.
A supervisor writes: "Amir is an exceptional employee." Rewritten: "Amir is an outstanding analyst who cut our report time in half." The swap is fine on its own, but the added result is what persuades the reader.
Our adjective hub gathers more praise words.
Near misses to avoid
Unique describes a sole example of its kind, not quality, so read unique synonyms before treating it as praise. Abnormal is a synonym only for the rare sense, and it usually sounds negative or medical. Special is softer and more personal than exceptional. Exceptionable, a rare formal word, means objectionable, which is the opposite of praise.
In some school systems, exceptional students or exceptional needs refer to learners who need extra support or extra challenge. Gifted may not match that meaning.
The adverb: exceptionally
Exceptionally works as an intensifier before adjectives: exceptionally kind, exceptionally hot. Swap in remarkably, unusually, extraordinarily or uncommonly. Unusually and uncommonly are cooler in tone; remarkably carries admiration. For everyday speech, really or very are fine, and the extremely synonyms page lists more.
Antonyms of exceptional
Ordinary, typical and usual are the neutral opposites. Average and unremarkable sound slightly let down. Mediocre and run-of-the-mill are critical. Pick carefully in feedback, since mediocre stings while typical does not.
- It was an ordinary week with no surprises.
- Critics called the sequel mediocre.
Frequently asked questions
Which word beats exceptional for praise?
Extraordinary and phenomenal sound stronger. Use them when the work truly goes past what anyone expected, or they start to sound inflated.
Is outstanding the same as exceptional?
Almost. Outstanding stresses standing above a group, while exceptional also has the sense of being an exception. In praise, they can usually swap freely.
Can exceptional mean unusual instead of very good?
Yes. In phrases like exceptional circumstances or an exceptional case, it means out of the ordinary and carries no praise.
What is the opposite of exceptional?
Ordinary, average and typical are the main antonyms. Mediocre is a harsher, more critical opposite.
Which exceptional swaps suit a cover letter?
Outstanding, accomplished and highly skilled work well, especially when you tie them to a result. Avoid stacking several in one paragraph.
Is exceptional too strong for everyday use?
Not if you mean it. For a good but normal result, choose solid or strong instead, and save exceptional for work that stands out.