unfathomable

adjective

un·​fath·​om·​able ˌən-ˈfa-t͟hə-mə-bəl How to pronounce unfathomable (audio)
Synonyms of unfathomable
: not capable of being fathomed:
a
: immeasurable
… the unfathomable darkness of empty space.H. G. Wells
b
: impossible to comprehend
unfathomable motives/reasons
unfathomably adverb

Examples of unfathomable in a Sentence

His behavior is completely unfathomable. the unfathomable reaches of space
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
So to not have caught this at some earlier stage was just unfathomable to me. Kerry Breen, CBS News, 13 June 2026 That level of wealth, all owned by just one person, was once unfathomable. Wyatte Grantham-Philips, Fortune, 12 June 2026 Otherwise, Makar will be wincing through pain trying to explain the unfathomable, Blackwood will be dropping F-bombs in disbelief and MacKinnon will be ducking reporters despite being the team’s best player. Troy Renck, Denver Post, 11 June 2026 Once again, the Spurs won the first quarter, this time, 41-22, increasing their first-quarter cushion on the series to an unfathomable 47 points. Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 11 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for unfathomable

Word History

First Known Use

1640, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unfathomable was in 1640

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unfathomable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unfathomable. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

unfathomable

adjective
un·​fath·​om·​able ˌən-ˈfat͟h-ə-mə-bəl How to pronounce unfathomable (audio)
: not capable of being fathomed:
b
: impossible to understand

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