Nonpareil vs. Only — What's the Difference?

Having no equal; peerless

Alone in kind or class; sole

Designating the smallest, most flavorful variety of pickled caper.

Having no siblings

A person or thing that has no equal; a paragon.

Most suitable of all; superior or excellent

A small pellet of variously colored sugar used to decorate or give texture to sweets.

Without anyone or anything else; alone

A small, flat chocolate drop covered with these pellets.

At the very least

Unequalled, unrivalled; unique.

And nothing else or more; merely; just

(countable) A person or thing that has no equal; a paragon.

Exclusively; solely

The blue underwing or Clifden nonpareil (Catocala fraxini), a species of moth distributed across the Palearctic; also (obsolete) any of a number of moths of other species.

In the last analysis or final outcome; inevitably

In full nonpareil parrot: the eastern rosella (Platycercus eximius), a species of rosella (parrot) native to southeastern Australia.

With the negative or unfortunate result

The painted bunting (Passerina ciris), a brightly-coloured finch native to North America.

As recently as

(archaic) In full nonpareil apple: a variety of apple tasting both sweet and tart which ripens very late in the season; also, the tree producing this fruit.

In the immediate past

(archaic) Any of various types of small sweets.

Were it not that; except that

A small pellet of white or coloured sugar used as decoration on baked goods and candy.

With the restriction that; but

(by extension) A small, flat chocolate drop covered with such pellets of sugar, similar to a comfit.

However; and yet

(by extension) A bud]] of the smallest size.

Alone in a category.

The size of type between ruby and emerald (or, in the United States, between agate and minion), standardized as 6-point; (countable) a slug of this size.

Singularly superior; the best.

Something of unequaled excellence; a peerless thing or person; a nonesuch; - often used as a name.

Without sibling; without a sibling of the same gender.

A size of type next smaller than minion and next larger than agate (or ruby).

(obsolete) Mere.

A beautifully colored finch (Passerina ciris), native of the Southern United States. The male has the head and neck deep blue, rump and under parts bright red, back and wings golden green, and the tail bluish purple. Called also painted bunting and painted finch.

Without others or anything further; exclusively.

A small sphere, less than 1 mm diamter, of colored sugar, used to decorate confections; - usually used in the plural as though the name of a substance; as, sprinkled with nonpareils.

No more than; just.

A type of candy chocolate consisting of a small flat disk of chocolate, less than one inch diameter, having nonpareils{4} sprinkled on the top; as, she ate a box of nonpareils at the movie.

As recently as.

Having no equal; peerless.

(Britain) Used to express surprise or consternation at an action.

Model of excellence or perfection of a kind; one having no equal

Introduces a disappointing or surprising outcome that renders futile something previously mentioned.

Colored beads of sugar used as a topping on e.g. candies and cookies

(obsolete) Above all others; particularly.

A flat disk of chocolate covered with beads of colored sugar

(informal) Under the condition that; but.

Eminent beyond or above comparison;

But; except.

An only child.

One alone; single; as, the only man present; his only occupation.

Alone in its class; by itself; not associated with others of the same class or kind; as, an only child.

Alone, by reason of superiority; preëminent; chief.

In one manner or degree; for one purpose alone; simply; merely; barely.

So and no otherwise; no other than; exclusively; solely; wholly.

Singly; without more; as, only-begotten.

Above all others; particularly.

Save or except (that); - an adversative used elliptically with or without that, and properly introducing a single fact or consideration.

Being the only one; single and isolated from others;

Exclusive of anyone or anything else;

And nothing more;

Without any others being included or involved;

With nevertheless the final result;

In the final outcome;

Except that;

Never except when;

As recently as;