thinkable

adjective

think·​able ˈthiŋ-kə-bəl How to pronounce thinkable (audio)
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
thinkableness noun
thinkably adverb

Examples of thinkable in a Sentence

They divorced during a time when that was barely thinkable.
Recent Examples on the Web Instead, there are a handful of potential conflicts that would be limited and would involve conventional arms, which makes war thinkable. John Mearsheimer, Foreign Affairs, 19 Oct. 2021 Governments should also draft plans for what to do in the most important, thinkable scenarios, as well as how to deal with AGI’s many non-existential issues such as mass unemployment, runaway inequality, and energy consumption. Otto Barten, TIME, 16 May 2024 King and his wife, Tonya (Kacie Rogers, lending a no-nonsense freshness to the role for which Viola Davis won a Tony Award), are battling over whether a future is even thinkable. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024 Every thinkable type of casino game is also on offer. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 10 Jan. 2024 See all Example Sentences for thinkable 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'thinkable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1764, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of thinkable was in 1764

Dictionary Entries Near thinkable

Cite this Entry

“Thinkable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thinkable. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

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