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What's a good adverb to indicate an attribute that cannot be improved upon?

I wanted 'untoppably' to be a word, but it isn't.

Optimally and its synonyms come to mind, but it doesn't really have the best fit for the phrase I have in mind:

I’ve thought up a pretty neat method for completely eliminating dynamic cell references. I wrote it down for later. You can look forward to an [untoppably] fast version whenever I get a free week to implement it. (Could be a month, could be a year)

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Close to what you mean, I like "sans-pareil." (Even though it's basically impossible to pronounce!) –  Joe Blow Jun 28 '11 at 20:05
Yes well, being French, that's right up my alley! –  Alain Jun 28 '11 at 20:51
In this context I wouldn't claim that it's impossible to optimize further. Just say it's optimized. "You can look forward to an optimized version whenever ...". –  tenfour Jun 28 '11 at 22:24

5 Answers 5

up vote 8 down vote accepted

Optimally is probably the most accurate word in general, but a good fit for the phrase you give is unbeatably:

You can look forward to an unbeatably fast version.

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That's actually a very good fit! I'll give a chance for other answers to come in, but this could be the accepted solution for sure. –  Alain Jun 28 '11 at 17:04

I think insurmountably would also be a decent answer.

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True, although it tends to have negative connotations. Something that is insurmountable is not generally regarded as "the best thing possible", it's regarded as "something bad that can't be overcome" –  Alain Jun 28 '11 at 18:30
I think that connotation can go both ways. You can also say that someone has an insurmountable lead, which sounds like a good thing. In this case, if you simply place "insurmountably" in the test sentence you gave, I think it will do the job. –  Connie M. Jun 28 '11 at 18:37
Good example, I'll hand out points for that. –  Alain Jun 28 '11 at 19:49

Some more possibilities:


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The adverb I would use is insuperably. From the adjective insuperable. (not "toppable")

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I'm not fond of any of the suggestions. You have constructed a sentence where the only possible solutions are awkward sounding. That usually means you should go back to the start and try not to translate it as literally.

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