inconceivable

[in-kuhn-see-vuh-buhl]

adjective

1. not conceivable; unimaginable; unthinkable

2. unbelievable; incredible.

inconceivable

/ ˌɪnkənˈsiːvəbəl /

adjective

1. incapable of being conceived, imagined, or considered

Other Word Forms

• inconceivability noun
• inconceivableness noun
• inconceivably adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of inconceivable¹

First recorded in 1625–35; in- ³ + conceivable

Example Sentences

For starters, it would be almost inconceivable that the world's top football nations would not qualify for the World Cup.

From BBC

"Those documents exist, they will be on file... it's inconceivable they would not have been shown concerns raised by the security services through the vetting process," he told BBC Breakfast.

From BBC

The presence in Qatar of one of the most important US airbases in the world has led many to conclude that it's inconceivable that Washington didn't see the Israeli jets approaching.

From BBC

So it is far from inconceivable that a team like Crystal Palace could lift it this time.

From BBC

"It is inconceivable that you were not aware of your first commitment when making the second. It is impossible that you intended to honor both," he wrote.

From BBC

Related Words

• extraordinary 
• implausible 
• impossible 
• improbable 
• incredible 
• mind-boggling 
• strange 
• unbelievable 
• unheard-of 
• unimaginable 
• unthinkable