Valuable vs. Invaluable

synonyms

Ladies and gentlemen, this time, we're gonna talk to you about the slight differences between these two confusing words. Ready?

What Is Their Main Difference?

Both indicate how worthy something or someone is. However, 'valuable' describes its pecuniary worth, whereas, 'invaluable' indicates the worth of something/someone far beyond monetary concerns.

Differences

As stated above, we use 'valuable' to indicate how much something is worth. Look at the following examples:

I told you it will always remain a valuable object.

This wedding dress is valuable because of all of its diamonds.

'Invaluable', on the other hand, refers to someone or something's worth being far beyond numbers. Check out the following examples:

I'm so grateful to have. She's an invaluable friend to me.

Nobody is an invaluable to me as I am to myself.

Similarities

Both describe how worthy something or someone is. Look at the following examples:

I never thought I'd ever find something as valuable as this ring on my finger.

Remember to bring her to me alive. She's extremely invaluable to us.

Are They Interchangeable?

It is better to avoid using these two words interchangeably because 'valuable' measures something's worth using numbers, whereas, 'invaluable' is about more abstract terms like friendship, people, etc. Compare:

✓ This necklace will prove valuable to us one day.

X This necklace will prove invaluable to us one day.

This sentence is not grammatically wrong, but it is not common.