unthinkable

adjective

ˌən-ˈthiŋ-kə-bəl How to pronounce unthinkable (audio)
Definition of unthinkablenext
as in incredible
too extraordinary or improbable to believe to most people it seemed unthinkable that such a gentle man could be guilty of such awful crimes

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of unthinkable That ordering would have been unthinkable in 2024, when benchmark scores sold deals. — Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026 Democrats were right to insist that those concerns be addressed, and over the course of these negotiations, Republicans and the White House acepted ethics provisions that would have been unthinkable only months ago. — Anthony Scaramucci, Fortune, 1 Aug. 2026 Universal Creative, the division of the company responsible for theme park experiences, and especially the Universal Studios Hollywood team led by Jon Corfino, have accomplished what, just 10 years ago, would have been unthinkable. — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 28 July 2026 Before this day is done, we shall be faced with an unthinkable decision. — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for unthinkable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unthinkable
  1. incredible
  2. unlikely
  3. incredulous
  4. impossible
  5. inconceivable
  6. unimaginable
  7. unbelievable
Adjective
  • Spot an incredible variety of wildlife, including sea lions, sea otters, porpoises, bald eagles and puffins.
    — Wendy Altschuler, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
  • What excited us about the Daisy Chain Reaction was the opportunity to give Olivia Rodrigo’s incredible community of fans that extra invitation to take that first step.
    — Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of incredible
Adjective
  • Tottenham Hotspur’s Lucas Bergvall has also featured during discussions, but Newcastle baulked at the asking price and a move for the 20-year-old seems unlikely.
    — Chris Waugh, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Simon Baughen, Professor of Shipping Law at Swansea University, said the path toward claiming Hormuz as a US territory was unlikely to come to fruition.
    — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of unlikely
Adjective
  • Besides, there are tree branches to bundle, coupons to clip, guacamole to toss out, incredulous news reports to run through Snopes and at least 20 spam texts to block.
    — Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
  • His incredulous response opens the door to a fight that escalates quickly.
    — Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of incredulous
Adjective
  • Riccardo Fabiani, Project Director for North Africa for the International Crisis Group, says the mass crossing seen in Ceuta on July 30 is by nature impossible to blame on a single actor or state.
    — Miguel Macias, NPR, 16 Aug. 2026
  • In the film, an impossible snowfall in a Ugandan village becomes a political allegory, echoing colonial intrusion.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of impossible
Adjective
  • After already undergoing two Tommy John surgeries to repair his UCL, Antone would now need an inconceivable third.
    — Cal Phillips, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Sometimes, my mind wanders to a question that feels inconceivable.
    — Ayana Lage, Vogue, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of inconceivable
Adjective
  • The federal government has continued to print and spend unimaginable amounts of money, even though households and companies own most of the country’s wealth.
    — Dave Birnbaum, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Set in 1935, amidst the Great Depression, Season 2 revolves around the bloody massacre of the Bradley Gang, a group of bank robbers who stop in Derry to buy ammo and end up facing unimaginable horror.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of unimaginable
Adjective
  • Matthew Stafford has an unbelievable ability to get the ball out of his hand fast which is hard to get home on.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Yet the procedural is so formulaic and the twists so unbelievable that even the most lackadaisical viewer will likely solve the mysteries long before the truth is revealed.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of unbelievable

Browse Nearby Words

untethers
unthinkable
unthinkably
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Cite this Entry

“Unthinkable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unthinkable. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of unthinkable for Spanish Speakers

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