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
According to officials, this was Watts’ motive for the unthinkable crimes.
—
Natalia Senanayake, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
Threatened by the reality of Jesus’ growing influence, religious leaders do the unthinkable—ally with their Roman oppressors.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024
Fans flock to stores on release day to do the unthinkable: purchase physical copies of her albums that come in multiple collectible versions.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2024
For Tyson, the unthinkable happened in 2009 when his 4-year-old daughter Exodus died after accidentally choking herself with a cord.
—Janine Rubenstein, Peoplemag, 25 Mar. 2024
That energy carried over as the Lions were preseason favorites to do the unthinkable and win the NFC North Division for the first time.
—Jared Ramsey, Detroit Free Press, 19 Jan. 2024
His Weekend Update favorite Willie, meanwhile, makes the concept of smiling through the unthinkable uniquely funny, with Thompson's indefatigable charm buoying us as much as poor Willie himself.
—Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 14 Dec. 2023
When the unthinkable happens, there’s beauty, not shame, in growing up, wising up and finding new ways to think.
—Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2024
Yet the unthinkable happens at a frequency that terrifies me.
—Cathleen Calkins, Longreads, 23 Jan. 2024
Natalia Senanayake, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
Threatened by the reality of Jesus’ growing influence, religious leaders do the unthinkable—ally with their Roman oppressors.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024
Fans flock to stores on release day to do the unthinkable: purchase physical copies of her albums that come in multiple collectible versions.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2024
For Tyson, the unthinkable happened in 2009 when his 4-year-old daughter Exodus died after accidentally choking herself with a cord.
—Janine Rubenstein, Peoplemag, 25 Mar. 2024
That energy carried over as the Lions were preseason favorites to do the unthinkable and win the NFC North Division for the first time.
—Jared Ramsey, Detroit Free Press, 19 Jan. 2024
His Weekend Update favorite Willie, meanwhile, makes the concept of smiling through the unthinkable uniquely funny, with Thompson's indefatigable charm buoying us as much as poor Willie himself.
—Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 14 Dec. 2023
When the unthinkable happens, there’s beauty, not shame, in growing up, wising up and finding new ways to think.
—Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2024
Yet the unthinkable happens at a frequency that terrifies me.
—Cathleen Calkins, Longreads, 23 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'the unthinkable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near the unthinkable
Cite this Entry
“The unthinkable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20unthinkable. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
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