unthinkable

adjective un·think·able \ ˌən-ˈthiŋ-kə-bəl \

Updated on: 11 Apr 2018

Definition of unthinkable

1 : not capable of being grasped by the mind

2 : being contrary to what is reasonable, desirable, or probable : being out of the question

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unthinkability

play \ˌən-ˌthiŋ-kə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

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unthinkably

play \ˌən-ˈthiŋ-kə-blē\ adverb

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Examples of unthinkable in a Sentence

to most people it seemed unthinkable that such a gentle man could be guilty of such awful crimes

Recent Examples of unthinkable from the Web

The decision to bring a baby into this specific world is unthinkable—not just because the future is so grim, but also because babies are quite skilled at making noise.

— david sims, The Atlantic, "A Quiet Place Silently Jangles the Nerves," 7 Apr. 2018
Paid for through the $2.5 billion Merida security assistance program launched by President George W. Bush in 2008, the data-collecting effort requires the kind of U.S. access to Mexican facilities that would have been unthinkable a decade ago.

— joshua partlow, Washington Post, "U.S. gathers data on migrants deep in Mexico, a sensitive program Trump’s rhetoric could put at risk," 6 Apr. 2018
Paid for through the $2.5 billion Merida security assistance program launched by President George W. Bush in 2008, the data-collecting effort requires the kind of U.S. access to Mexican facilities that would have been unthinkable a decade ago.

— joshua partlow and nick miroff, chicagotribune.com, "U.S. expands data-gathering program on migrants in Mexico," 6 Apr. 2018
Mickelson blowing flop shots and chips and Woods missing badly tee to green were unthinkable back in their day.

— paul daugherty, Cincinnati.com, "Paul Daugherty on Masters 2018: Is this the last hurrah for Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson?," 6 Apr. 2018
During those contentious days in April 2003, the thought that the club would not only admit women members but would also someday host the final round of a tournament for women amateurs was unthinkable.

— christine brennan, USA TODAY, "It's time to applaud Augusta National for giving women's golf a prominent platform," 4 Apr. 2018
And people on one psychiatric ward picked up musical instruments, used drills and saws, held conversations that had been unthinkable shortly before.

— maggie jones, New York Times, "A Reckoning With an Imperfect Science in ‘Blue Dreams’," 3 Apr. 2018
Kim sent his sister, Kim Yo Jong, to South Korea with an invitation for the country's President Moon to come north and meet with Kim, a dramatic improvement in relations that would have been unthinkable only months earlier.

— james griffiths, CNN, "North Korea's young leader Kim Jong Un steps out onto the world stage," 28 Mar. 2018
Before the election, a post for Spahn in a Merkel government would have been unthinkable.

— Bloomberg.com, "President Trump Speaks at CPAC," 23 Feb. 2018

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