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incredible

[in-kred-uh-buhl]
adjective
  1. so extraordinary as to seem impossible: incredible speed.
  2. not credible; hard to believe; unbelievable: The plot of the book is incredible.
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Origin of incredible

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English word from Latin word incrēdibilis. See in-3, credible
Related formsin·cred·i·bil·i·ty, in·cred·i·ble·ness, nounin·cred·i·bly, adverb
Can be confusedincredible incredulous

Synonyms

2. farfetched, astonishing, preposterous.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for incredibility

Historical Examples

  • It was this awesomeness, this incredibility, that overwhelmed her.

    The Side Of The Angels

    Basil King

  • Neopa looked at him with her fawn-like eyes large with incredibility and hope.

    The Snow-Burner

    Henry Oyen

  • For all its incredibility, the adventure lacks every element of surprise.

  • The situation was incredible, and waxed daily in incredibility.

    Mr. Prohack

    E. Arnold Bennett

  • But it was idle to talk of the incredibility of such instances.

British Dictionary definitions for incredibility

incredible

adjective
  1. beyond belief or understanding; unbelievable
  2. informal marvellous; amazing
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Derived Formsincredibility or incredibleness, nounincredibly, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for incredibility

incredible

adj.

early 15c., "unbelievable," from Latin incredibilis "not to be believed," from in- "not" (see in- (1)) + credibilis "worthy of belief" (see credit). Used c.1400 in a now-extinct sense of "unbelieving, incredulous." Related: Incredibly.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper