inconceivable
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of inconceivable
First recorded in 1625–35; in- 3 + conceivable
Explanation
If something is inconceivable, it doesn’t seem possible, it’s hard to imagine, or it can’t be true. It might seem inconceivable that a society would choose to pay bankers more than teachers, but it’s true. When an idea or event is inconceivable, it's so outlandish, amazing, or horrible that it’s hard to believe. The horrible acts committed by the Nazis during the Holocaust are inconceivable on many levels, yet we know they occurred. Some things are inconceivable because they really wouldn't happen — for example, it's inconceivable that you would actually eat your hat.
Vocabulary lists containing inconceivable
The Diary of Anne Frank
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Essential Academic Vocabulary for High School Students, List 2
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
List 3
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“It seems inconceivable to me that we would voluntarily relinquish the leadership that has propelled our country, fueled the economy, made us healthier, and made us safer,” he said.
From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026
Two men broke a previously inconceivable barrier at the London Marathon on Sunday, both running 26.2 miles in under two hours and smashing the world record.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 26, 2026
Paramount has set a closing target date of Sept. 30, although the deal faces several regulatory hurdles, so it is not inconceivable that it will get pushed past that date.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 17, 2026
Alibaba ADRs remain priced around $150—up 0.5% in Monday’s premarket—which is just half of the late-2020 high, but a price level that may have been inconceivable in 2022, for instance, when it traded near $60.
From Barron's • Dec. 22, 2025
Will and Lyra were both trembling and weak with fear, exhaustion, nausea, and pain, but giving up was inconceivable.
From "The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
