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letter-perfect

letter-perfect

1 5.8
Exactly correct in every word, matching the original text
  • adjective
  • /ˈlɛtərˌpɜrfɪkt/
translation icon : perfecto
  • The speaker delivered the speech in a letter-perfect manner, memorizing every word exactly.

Examples

  • When he was nearly letter-perfect, she warmed some soup and laid out mountain ham and bread.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Neither so much as moved, their performance was letter perfect.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • After a mistake, he was showing us he was letter-perfect again.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • I mean he was letter-perfect in the spring when he was fresh.

    Blog text (7)
  • The pianist, damn her, was brilliant; the technique was letter-perfect.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • She has been letter-perfect in the execution of G.W. Bush's orders.

    Blog text (22)
  • Her performance was letter-perfect, replicating the choreography flawlessly as the choreographer intended.

  • For the play to succeed, the actors need to remember their lines letter-perfect.

Synonyms

perfect
vsletter-perfect
1.0

As good as possible and without any mistakes

narrows this to correctly reproducing the original wording in every detail
exact
vsletter-perfect
901 3.2

Completely correct in every small detail

stresses copying original phrasing exactly, not only factual matching
accurate
vsletter-perfect
680 3.0

Exactly correct in every detail

adds the idea of following the original wording when recalled
precise
vsletter-perfect
286 3.6

Exactly correct and clear about small details

places extra importance on reproducing the original wording exactly
true
vsletter-perfect
261 1.0

Exactly aimed and hitting the intended point

adds the special emphasis on reproducing the original phrasing word for word
flawless
vsletter-perfect
76 3.7

Perfect without any mistakes or faults

focuses that flawlessness specifically on accurate verbal reproduction
spot on
vsletter-perfect
  • UK
42 4.4

Exactly right about a fact or idea

is less informal and focuses on matching original phrasing precisely
on the money
vsletter-perfect
  • Informal
31 6.0

Exactly right in what someone says or does

adds the requirement of reproducing the original words when remembered
pitch-perfect
vsletter-perfect
3 6.0

Exactly right in tone or performance

applies that flawlessness to recalling or following exact original wording
word-perfect
vsletter-perfect
6.3

Able to say the exact words from memory without mistakes

focuses more on matching original phrasing in every detail rather than general correctness

Antonyms

228 1.4

A thing that has errors or does not follow rules

73 3.5

Having faults or missing parts that make it less good

How Accurate

letter-perfect
1 5.8
exact
901 3.2
precise
286 3.6
accurate
680 3.0
correct
1.0

Surface Forms

letter-perfect positive

Etymology

Letter-perfect comes from the idea of doing something 'to the letter', meaning following each written letter exactly. So if something is letter-perfect, it is correct in every detail, like copying a text word for word.