priceless

Adjective

priceless (comparative more priceless, superlative most priceless)

1. (literally, not comparable, rare) Without a price assigned; unpriced.
2. (broadly, literally, not comparable) So precious as not to be obtainable or sold at any price.
   • For he the night before in Tarquins Tent, / Vnlockt the treaſure of his happie ſtate: / VVhat priſeleſſe vvealth the heauens had him lent, / In the poſſeſſion of his beauteous mate.1594, William Shakespeare, Lucrece (First Quarto), London: […] Richard Field, for Iohn Harrison, […], →OCLC, signature B, verso
   • Shall giue Theodoret to vnderſtand, / His ignorance of the prizeleſſe Ievvell, vvhich / He did poſſeſſe in you, mother in you, […]c. 1607–1621 (date written), [Francis Beaumont; John Fletcher; Philip Massinger], The Tragedy of Thierry King of France, and His Brother Theodoret. […], London: […] [Nicholas Okes] for Thomas...

   Synonyms:

   invaluable, inestimable

   Antonyms:

   valueless, worthless, nonvaluable

3. (archaic, broadly, literally, not comparable) Of no value; valueless; worthless.
   • VVhen ſome ſhall ſay, Faire once my Silvia vvas; / Thou vvilt complaine, Falſe novv's thy Looking-glaſſe: / VVhich renders that quite tarniſht vvᶜʰ vvas green, / And Priceleſs novv, vvhat Peerleſs once had been: / Upon thy Forme more vvrinkles yet vvill fall, / And comming dovvne, ſhall make no...1648, Robert Herrick, “Upon Silvia. A Mistresse.”, in Hesperides: Or, The Works both Humane & Divine […], London: […] John Williams, and Francis Eglesfield, and are to be sold by Tho[mas] Hunt, […]...
   • [H]e thought of his late friendship with anger and held it cheap, a priceless imitation for which perhaps he had given a pure jewel in stupid exchange.1905 September, Mrs. John Van Vorst [i.e. Bessie Van Vorst], Marie Van Vorst, “Mrs. Evremond”, in Ainslee’s: The Magazine that Entertains, volume XVI, number 2, New York, N.Y.: Ainslee Magazine Co....

   Synonyms:

   good-for-nothing, no good, two-bit, bastardly, blown, cacky, chaffy, cocking, crapalicious, cruddy

4. (comparable, figuratively) Held in high regard; treasured.
   • I do not hope that any love and duty I may render in return, will ever make me worthy of your priceless confidence; […]1849 May – 1850 November, Charles Dickens, “Mr. Dick Fulfils My Aunt’s Prediction”, in The Personal History of David Copperfield, London: Bradbury & Evans, […], published 1850, →OCLC, page 470
   • If we part I shall be tormented by remorse at not having married. If we marry I shall spend my life mentally kicking myself for having so carelessly given up priceless liberty.1950 June 18, Philip Larkin, “To J. B. Sutton – 18 June 1950”, in Anthony Thwaite, editor, Selected Letters of Philip Larkin, 1940–1985, New York, N.Y.: Farrar Straus Giroux, published 1993, →ISBN...

   Synonyms:

   esteemed, sacred, valued, admired, applauded, blessed, distinguished, eminent, feared, gloriful

5. (comparable, figuratively, informal) Absurd; ridiculous.
   • “You son of a bitch,” she exploded. “You talk. You, of all people. You. That’s priceless.”1946, Kenneth Fearing, “Earl Janoth II”, in The Big Clock, New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company, →OCLC, page 65
   • Where the concrete approach of the realistic nationalists eventually led them is illustrated by the priceless story of how Charles Maurras had “the honor and pleasure,” after the defeat of France, of falling in during his flight to the south with a female astrologer who interpreted to him the...1951, Hannah Arendt, “The Dreyfus Affair”, in The Origins of Totalitarianism (A Harvest/HBJ Book), new edition, San Diego, Calif.; New York, N.Y.: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, published 1973, →ISBN...

   Synonyms:

   farcical, laughable, rich, absurd, Laputan, cockamamie, cockeyed, foolish, full of it, irrational

6. (comparable, figuratively, informal) Very amusing; hilarious.
   • Paul laughed heartily and said she was priceless, but Hannah remained so contritely straight-faced that his laughter sounded to himself as if it had just a trace of incipient madness in it, and he suddenly sobered, blinking rapidly.1936, Lloyd C[assell] Douglas, chapter I, in White Banners, Boston, Mass.; New York, N.Y.: Houghton Mifflin Company […], →OCLC, page 18
   • Hell, those jacks was laughing and laughing like to wet themselves. Even Ernst had a smile on his face, shaking his head like he ain’t believed what he just seen. ‘Aw, Sid,’ Chip gasped. ‘Holy hell, Sid, you priceless.’2011, Esi Edugyan, “Berlin 1939”, in Half Blood Blues, London: Serpent’s Tail, →ISBN, page 142

   Synonyms:

   gut-busting, hysterical, uproarious, amusing, chucklesome, comedic, comic, comical, droll, filarious

7. (comparable, figuratively, informal, ironic, often) Excellent; fantastic; wonderful.
   • “And have you had a lovely evening?” / “Oh, priceless,” I said.1926 October, Ernest Hemingway, chapter 3, in The Sun Also Rises, New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner’s Sons, published 1954, →OCLC, book I, page 22
   • Hey! Wait! I got a new complaint / Forever in debt to your priceless advice1993 August 30, Kurt Cobain, “Heart-Shaped Box”, in In Utero, performed by Nirvana

   Synonyms:

   marvelous, spectacular, top-notch, ace, admirable, amazing, awe-inspiring, awesome, badass, broyal