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

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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.
But then our Marylanders did the unthinkable. — Paul Callahan, Baltimore Sun, 14 June 2026 Then, the unthinkable happened. — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 18 June 2026 But thanks to American League parity and a strong May, the Sox could be able to do the unthinkable. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026 And so millions of us around the world have been trying to reach family members, with no way of knowing whether certain calls go unanswered because of electrical outages, which are common even in ordinary times, or the unthinkable. — Gisela Salim-Peyer, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for the unthinkable

Rhymes for the unthinkable

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Browse Nearby Words

the universe
the unthinkable
the upper crust
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Cite this Entry

“The unthinkable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20unthinkable. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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