the unthinkable

noun

: something that one cannot accept, believe, or imagine
especially : something that is so bad that one does not want to think about it
And then, the unthinkable happened: the car skidded out of control and crashed.

Examples of the unthinkable in a Sentence

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.
Cumming brings us straight into the heart of communities where the unthinkable has happened and no one knows why – or who is responsible. Jordan Moreau, Variety, 12 May 2025 Cumming brings us straight into the heart of communities where the unthinkable has happened and no one knows why — or who is responsible. Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 12 May 2025 Blanketing our communities with descriptions that focus solely on crime is dishonest and hinders our efforts to achieve peace, especially those of us who have survived the unthinkable loss of a loved one to murder. Clementina Chery, Boston Herald, 13 Apr. 2025 Absent the unthinkable—the view from abroad begs a broader question: Can the retail industry that survived the pandemic survive a tariff war? Greg Petro, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for the unthinkable

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“The unthinkable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20unthinkable. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!