suffer by comparison
Look worse alongside
To suffer by comparison is to appear worse when measured against something else.
The phrase acknowledges that a thing may have merit on its own terms but looks inadequate next to a superior example: The sequel suffers by comparison to the original.
The construction often implies the comparison is unfair or inevitable rather than chosen.
- pale into insignificanceBecome negligible by contrast
- inferiorOf lower rank
- outperformAchieve superior results
- play second fiddleOccupy secondary rank
- second bestRanked just below top
runner up · overshadowed · dull · come up short · outshone · pale · esteem · mediocrity · disappointment · second-rate · excellence · wanting · deficiency · prominence · eclipsed · distinction · disparity · fade
suffer by comparisonoutshine
Exceed in brilliance
stand out · eclipse · put to shame · tower over · surpass
suffer, suffers, suffered, suffering, sufferer, sufferers, insufferable, insufferably, compare