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.
Eventually, the unthinkable became inevitable. Sam Dalling, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025 The pharmacist, played by Maria Bakalova, gives Alysia a similar monologue, in tribute to Durham’s father and those who underwent the unthinkable, leading to the eventual cure. Barry Levitt, Time, 7 Oct. 2025 His only chance of sticking around is to do the unthinkable and complete the reverse sweep. Drew Vonscio, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025 Israel had done the unthinkable, targeting Hamas leadership in what should have been the neutral zone of Doha, Qatar. Greg Palkot, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 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 Oct. 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!