unbelievable
9 synonyms and 3 antonyms for unbelievable, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — So surprising or extraordinary that it is hard to accept as true.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adj
So surprising or extraordinary that it is hard to accept as true.
“The view from the summit was unbelievable.”
incredible
implausible
inconceivable
far-fetched
astonishing
staggering
improbable
unconvincing
unlikely
Opposites
How to use unbelievable
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
unbelievable performance
an unbelievable story
Etymology
From un- + believable.
Full origin of unbelievable →Frequently asked questions
What does “unbelievable” mean?
The word “unbelievable” means so surprising or extraordinary that it is hard to accept as true. In plain terms, either amazing beyond expectation, or simply not credible.
How do you pronounce “unbelievable”?
“Unbelievable” is pronounced uhn-bih-LEE-vuhbl (/ˌʌnbɪˈliːvəbl̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “unbelievable” in a sentence?
Here is “unbelievable” used in a sentence: “The comeback in the final minutes was simply unbelievable.”
What part of speech is “unbelievable”?
“Unbelievable” is an adjective.
Is “unbelievable” a common word?
“Unbelievable” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “unbelievable” have?
“Unbelievable” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: so surprising or extraordinary that it is hard to accept as true.
Does "unbelievable" mean something good or bad?
It can be either — context decides. "Unbelievable" literally means so surprising or extraordinary that it is hard to accept as true, so it can express praise ("an unbelievable performance") or outrage ("unbelievable rudeness"), and it can also flag that a claim simply is not credible.
What is the difference between "unbelievable" and "incredible"?
Both literally mean "hard to believe", but in everyday use "incredible" now leans strongly toward admiration, while "unbelievable" is used for both amazement and outrage. "Unbelievable" is also the more common choice when genuinely doubting a claim, as in "his excuse was unbelievable."
How do you spell it — "unbelievable" or "unbelieveable"?
The correct spelling is "unbelievable", with no "e" before "-able". Like "believable", it drops the final silent "e" of "believe" when the suffix is added; "unbelieveable" is a common misspelling.
What should you say instead of "unbelievable" in formal writing?
When you mean a claim is literally not credible, formal alternatives include "implausible" and "not credible", which sound more measured. The exclamatory use of "unbelievable!" is conversational, so formal prose usually explains precisely why something strains belief instead.
