inconceivable

adjective

ˌin-kən-ˈsē-və-bəl How to pronounce inconceivable (audio)
Definition of inconceivablenext
as in incredible
too extraordinary or improbable to believe the formerly inconceivable idea that humans could land on the moon

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 inconceivable For most of baseball’s history, formal affiliation with any form of gambling was inconceivable. — Michael Delayo, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2026 The American players seem eager to embrace what might have seemed inconceivable for a big nation with a relatively shallow pedigree in international soccer. — Jim Vertuno, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2026 Perhaps displacement resides in these inconceivable connections, in these scandalous imprecisions. — María Ospina, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026 Bradley’s film choreography, even in the numbers that Footer deems masterpieces, is above average, clever and assured, but Astaire’s art—inconceivable without the enormous influence of Bradley’s Black contemporaries, like John Bubbles—is in another league. — Brian Seibert, New Yorker, 13 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for inconceivable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inconceivable
  1. incredible
  2. incredulous
  3. unlikely
  4. impossible
  5. unthinkable
  6. unimaginable
  7. unbelievable
Adjective
  • In the 29th minute, Argentina sent a pass toward the net, and Messi beat the defense with an incredible first step.
    — Tim Rohan, NBC news, 4 July 2026
  • Cape Verde came astonishingly close to taking defending champions Argentina all the way to penalties, eventually falling to a 3-2 extra-time defeat despite an incredible goal from full-back Sidny Lopes Cabral.
    — Nick Miller, New York Times, 4 July 2026
Definition of incredible
Adjective
  • On several occasions throughout the game, Lakers players were incredulous after calls – or non-calls – from the crew.
    — Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 8 May 2026
  • On several occasions, Lakers players were incredulous after calls — or no-calls — from the crew.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 May 2026
Definition of incredulous
Adjective
  • Some analysts, however, think a deal is unlikely because the company would not want to be saddled with a broadcast network.
    — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • The motion is unlikely to pass, but indicates how deeply politicized the issue has become.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
Definition of unlikely
Adjective
  • The ombudsmen point to impossible care burdens that cause burnout, irregular schedules, lack of training and the difficulty of taking care of seniors who, in previous decades, would have qualified for hospital care.
    — Bruce Finley, Denver Post, 5 July 2026
  • Shrouded completely in a thick, poisonous cloud cover, its surface is obviously impossible to observe.
    — Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 5 July 2026
Definition of impossible
Adjective
  • But football has repeatedly embraced innovations ​once viewed as unthinkable, from the back-pass rule to VAR and longer stoppage time.
    — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 3 July 2026
  • Once unthinkable, Iran now knows how to make money by blocking access to the crucial waterway, and despite the treaty talks, is already making plans to do so.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 29 June 2026
Definition of unthinkable
Adjective
  • Ahead of the Season 4 finale, Deadline spoke with Ghafoori about charting Fatima’s journey, filming the season’s most physically and emotionally demanding scenes, and finding the humanity in a character confronting an unimaginable transformation.
    — Scott Shilstone, Deadline, 29 June 2026
  • If the collision occurs in Europe, a country like France will disappear completely from the map, and the entire continent will become an unimaginable disaster area.
    — Govert Schilling, Scientific American, 27 June 2026
Definition of unimaginable
Adjective
  • The most unbelievable moment of the entire event came down to the elements.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
  • The bread there is genuinely unbelievable…and the baba ganoush!
    — Shivani Vora, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of unbelievable

Browse Nearby Words

incomputable
inconceivable
inconceivably
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Inconceivable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inconceivable. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on inconceivable

Nglish: Translation of inconceivable for Spanish Speakers

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