can't compete
idiom
—used to say that one person or thing is much better than another
Store-bought cookies can't compete with homemade ones.
Examples of can't compete in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Intel still can't compete on single-core performance against Apple, and that's where the improvement is the most modest.
—
Luke Larsen, Wired News, 26 Jan. 2026
Store bought just can't compete with the sweet juicy flavor of homegrown berries.
—Heather Bien, Southern Living, 7 Jan. 2026
As a small business, Boyer can't compete with the bigger retailers who have more purchasing power.
—Kelly O'Grady, CBS News, 26 Dec. 2025
All that lightness translates to convenience and a couple advantages most rooftop tents can't compete with.
—New Atlas, 30 Nov. 2025
Like all project management apps, though, Smartsheet’s form creation abilities can't compete with those from dedicated services, such as Jotform.
—PC Magazine, 14 Nov. 2025
For Henry, being moved would also make sense if Baltimore can't compete for a Super Bowl.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
An organization that can't pivot can't compete.
—Maman Ibrahim, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Many top athletes can't compete with these numbers.
—ArsTechnica, 1 Aug. 2025
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Luke Larsen, Wired News, 26 Jan. 2026
Store bought just can't compete with the sweet juicy flavor of homegrown berries.
—Heather Bien, Southern Living, 7 Jan. 2026
As a small business, Boyer can't compete with the bigger retailers who have more purchasing power.
—Kelly O'Grady, CBS News, 26 Dec. 2025
All that lightness translates to convenience and a couple advantages most rooftop tents can't compete with.
—New Atlas, 30 Nov. 2025
Like all project management apps, though, Smartsheet’s form creation abilities can't compete with those from dedicated services, such as Jotform.
—PC Magazine, 14 Nov. 2025
For Henry, being moved would also make sense if Baltimore can't compete for a Super Bowl.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
An organization that can't pivot can't compete.
—Maman Ibrahim, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Many top athletes can't compete with these numbers.
—ArsTechnica, 1 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Can't compete.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/can%27t%20compete. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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