What is the difference in meaning of the words valuble and invaluble?

mk2norwich

Valuable means having considerable monetary or material value, or something highly useful or good for a particular purpose, or having admired or esteemed {qualities;} invaluable means something of inestimable use or help, indispensible, much appreciated or having extremely high value. In some cases, these two words are interchangeable, if one is speaking of something of great value. It's a bit like 'flammable' and 'inflammable'. Mar 14 03, 1:31 AM

kerry8888

most references state that valuable and invaluable are synonyms - similarly confusing are flammable and inflammable, ravel and unravel etc. when i use the term 'invaluable' i think it places more emphasis on the value of the item/event/idea etc than just to say valuable. it is almost used in a superlative context. a valuable contribution is probably less impressive than an invaluable one - in my mind anyway. all sources seem to agree that there is little explanation for the this phenomenom - just another one of those english language oddities....:) Mar 14 03, 1:36 AM

Stanely

Thank you, your valuble explanations are invaluble... Mar 14 03, 3:17 AM

Gnomon

Valuable means it has a high value. Invaluable means you couldn't put a value on it, because it is worth so much. Mar 14 03, 9:46 AM

Jeeves

A computer mouse is invaluable when using Windows, but it is not very valuable. Mar 14 03, 9:58 AM

Friar Tuck

It is confusing the English language. Take soluble which means - can dissolve. Insoluble means the exact opposite - cannot dissolve. These are not synonyms. Therefore using the same argument, valuble means something that can be given a definite price or value and invaluable is something that cannot be given a value. This does not mean that it applies to something that is worthless as that has a value of zero. Mar 14 03, 10:52 AM