thinkable

adjective

think·able | \ˈthiŋ-kə-bəl

\

Definition of thinkable

1 : conceivably possible a time when divorce was barely thinkable

2 : capable of being comprehended or reasoned about the ultimate nature of Deity is scarcely thinkable

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Examples of thinkable in a Sentence

They divorced during a time when that was barely thinkable.

Recent Examples on the Web

Wohlfeil’s options range from ordering SDSU West off the ballot, an unthinkable nuclear bomb, to a (thinkable) chiding of the plaintiffs for wasting the court’s time. — Logan Jenkins, sandiegouniontribune.com, "3 judges on hot summer seats as stadium vote nears," 11 June 2018 That has made the once unthinkable suddenly all too thinkable. — Erin Grace, The Seattle Times, "Nebraska residents consider what to do in nuclear attack," 27 Jan. 2018 For 38 harrowing minutes, the unthinkable was thinkable. — San Francisco Chronicle, "Last Word: 38 harrowing minutes in Hawaii," 15 Jan. 2018 And with each fresh outrage, the American system’s ultimate political sanction becomes more thinkable. — Jacob Weisberg, Slate Magazine, "The Only Way Trump Gets Impeached," 19 May 2017 The year 1949 opened many fault lines, but unlike that midcentury world, so dramatically described by Peraino in his timely book, our globalized world renders separation not even thinkable. — New York Times, "10 New Books We Recommend This Week," 12 Oct. 2017 Hundreds were left dead, villages burned beyond recognition and coexistence among many Rakhines and Rohingyas no longer thinkable. — Mary Callahan, Time, "Review: Myanmar's Enemy Within and the Making of Anti-Muslim Rage," 19 May 2015 Except Trump’s entire career is beyond the pale, and in his time on the political stage, the unthinkable has become thinkable with regulatory. — Jonathan Chait, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump Is Mobilizing for War Against the Rule of Law," 20 July 2017 The point is that such a war is thinkable once more. — Carl Prine, sandiegouniontribune.com, "The unimaginable about wars is being imagined again, says acclaimed military strategist Peter Singer," 3 May 2017

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

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Dictionary Entries near thinkable

think aloud/out loud

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Time Traveler for thinkable

The first known use of thinkable was in 1764

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More Definitions for thinkable

thinkable

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of thinkable

: capable of being thought about and done

See the full definition for thinkable in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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