adj
Uncommon
unthinkable
uhn-THIHNG-kuh-buhl
Unthinkable (adj) means So extreme or unlikely that it seems impossible to imagine happening. Example: “A second global pandemic seemed unthinkable just a decade earlier.”
adj
1
So extreme or unlikely that it seems impossible to imagine happening.
"A second global pandemic seemed unthinkable just a decade earlier."
"It was unthinkable that she would ever quit the family business."
2
Completely unacceptable according to normal standards of behaviour.
"Speaking to elders that way would have been unthinkable in his household."
How to use unthinkable
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSo extreme, shocking, or unlikely you can barely picture it happening.
Common pairings
unthinkable tragedy
once unthinkable
unthinkable consequences
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Word forms
- Plural
- unthinkables
- Comparative
- more unthinkable
- Superlative
- most unthinkable
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A second global pandemic seemed _____ just a decade earlier.
Antonyms
thinkable
Rhymes for unthinkable
See all rhymes for unthinkable →Frequently asked questions
What does “unthinkable” mean?
The word “unthinkable” means so extreme or unlikely that it seems impossible to imagine happening. In plain terms, so extreme, shocking, or unlikely you can barely picture it happening.
How do you pronounce “unthinkable”?
“Unthinkable” is pronounced uhn-THIHNG-kuh-buhl (/ʌnˈθɪŋkəbəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “unthinkable” in a sentence?
Here is “unthinkable” used in a sentence: “A second global pandemic seemed unthinkable just a decade earlier.”
What part of speech is “unthinkable”?
“Unthinkable” is an adjective.
Is “unthinkable” a common word?
“Unthinkable” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “unthinkable” have?
“Unthinkable” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: so extreme or unlikely that it seems impossible to imagine happening.
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