incredible

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adjective in·cred·i·ble \ (ˌ)in-ˈkre-də-bəl \

Definition of incredible

1 :too extraordinary and improbable to be believed

making incredible claims

2 :amazing, extraordinary

incredible skill

an incredible appetite

met an incredible woman

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incredibility

play \(ˌ)in-ˌkre-də-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

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incredibleness

play \(ˌ)in-ˈkre-də-bəl-nəs\ noun

See incredible defined for English-language learners

See incredible defined for kids

Examples of incredible in a Sentence

The movie tells an incredible story of survival.
I find his explanation pretty incredible.
Incredible as it may seem, she's had no formal training as an artist.
It's incredible to me that such a lazy person could be so successful.
a landscape of incredible beauty
The new job is an incredible opportunity.
We have put an incredible amount of work into this project.

Recent Examples of incredible from the Web

The texture is incredible and the flavor is spot-on.

— lisa lillien, PEOPLE.com, "Hungry Girl: Healthy Snacks Worth Ordering Online," 28 Aug. 2017
Our shelter locations are safe, but getting to them becomes virtually impossible because the roads are cut off by this incredible flooding.

— ann m. simmons, latimes.com, "Red Cross braces for weeks of relief effort in the face of colossal storm disaster," 28 Aug. 2017
Good ideas are a start, but anything worth building takes incredible focus and tenacity.

— josh linkner, Detroit Free Press, "Here's what happened when a brilliant entrepreneur got ticked," 19 Aug. 2017
Cheap phones are awesome; expensive phones are incredible.

— david pierce, WIRED, "Review: Essential Phone," 18 Aug. 2017
Any obliging picnic table along the way will offer the same incredible view.

— Alaska Dispatch News, "Dining review: Big plans (and big views) at small eatery Froth & Forage on the Seward Highway," 16 Aug. 2017
The Gunners have been resistant to all approaches, but City are ready to up the ante with the £60m bid, and by offering Sanchez an incredible £400k-a-week wage packet.

— SI.com, "Manchester City Set to Make Final £60m Offer to Sign Arsenal Forward Before Transfer Deadline," 15 Aug. 2017
Check it out: Although this does look incredible, perhaps don't try this at home.

— avery thompson, Popular Mechanics, "What's Better Than a Domino Run? Fire Dominoes.," 10 Aug. 2017
There's so much power and a grace coming out of so many people who have so much to lose, and the human spirit is incredible.

— sarah silverman, Marie Claire, ""I Want to Learn to Fight Better": Emma Stone on Politics and Equal Pay," 9 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'incredible.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of incredible

Middle English, from Latin incredibilis, from in- + credibilis credible

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First Known Use: 15th century

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incredible Synonyms

INCREDIBLE Defined for English Language Learners

incredible

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adjective

Definition of incredible for English Language Learners

: difficult or impossible to believe
: extremely good, great, or large

INCREDIBLE Defined for Kids

incredible

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adjective in·cred·i·ble \ in-ˈkre-də-bəl \

Definition of incredible for Students

1 :too strange or unlikely to be believed

It was an incredible story.

2 :extremely or amazingly good, great, or large

incredible strength

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incredibly

\-blē\ adverb

Word Root of incredible

The Latin word credere, meaning “to believe,” gives us the root cred. Words from the Latin credere have something to do with believing someone or something. Something credible is easy to believe, while something incredible is so out of the ordinary that it is difficult to believe. Giving credit to something someone says is believing that it is true.