If you describe something as inconceivable, you think it is very unlikely to happen or be true.
It was inconceivable to me that Toby could have been my attacker.
Until now, a devaluation of the dollar seemed inconceivable.
Synonyms: unimaginable, impossible, incredible, staggering [informal] More Synonyms of inconceivable
inconceivable in British English
(ˌɪnkənˈsiːvəbəl)
adjective
incapable of being conceived, imagined, or considered
Derived forms
inconceivability (ˌinconˌceivaˈbility) or inconceivableness (ˌinconˈceivableness)
noun
inconceivably (ˌinconˈceivably)
adverb
inconceivable in American English
(ˌɪnkənˈsivəbəl)
adjective
that cannot be conceived; that cannot be thought of, understood, imagined, or believed
Derived forms
inconceivability (ˌinconˌceivaˈbility)
noun or ˌinconˈceivableness
inconceivably (ˌinconˈceivably)
adverb
Examples of 'inconceivable' in a sentence
inconceivable
It would surely be inconceivable now, but then nobody batted an eyelid.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
And if their mammoth lead remains intact after that, it seems inconceivable they will blow it.
The Sun (2017)
This would have been almost inconceivable two generations ago.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Such a book is simply inconceivable within a manuscript culture.
The Times Literary Supplement (2011)
Consequently my family pride is something inconceivable.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
It is inconceivable now that he will do that.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The thought of another nation lifting the trophy in their own backyard this time is almost inconceivable.
The Sun (2014)
The ground over which the attack had to be delivered was an almost inconceivable quagmire.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It takes a terrible attack or something almost inconceivable in defence to lose with numbers.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It is an aggressive campaign schedule that was almost inconceivable a month ago.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It is almost inconceivable that the part could have come from any other plane.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It is almost inconceivable that her diet will not lead to serious health issues.
The Sun (2010)
It is almost inconceivable they will allow the transfer window to close without taking a peek through it.
The Sun (2006)
Such an exodus seems almost inconceivable.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
It was inconceivable that they simply didn't know.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
How this income opportunity was missed seems inconceivable now, but there you go.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It seems inconceivable today that anyone thought lighting up on a packed Tube train was a good idea.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
At the moment it seems inconceivable that any of those would be applied but this story has turned out to be full of surprises.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
We were so happy and in love, it was inconceivable to think of him not being with me.
The Sun (2011)
If its range staggered his contemporaries, now it seems inconceivable that any one scholar could aspire to encompass it.
The Times Literary Supplement (2010)
Holyfield did not give any firm assurance that he would box on, but it seems inconceivable that he will not.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It seemed inconceivable that anyone in their right mind would let a battlefield novice like me anywhere near to where people would actually be pulling triggers.
Oliver Poole BLACK KNIGHTS: On the Bloody Road to Baghdad (2003)
But a source said: 'It is inconceivable the documentary can be shown at this stage.
The Sun (2008)
It seems inconceivable that a club of Wasps' stature could be allowed to fold.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He said: 'It seems inconceivable that any competent planning officer could recommend this.
The Sun (2014)
Without him, his side would be lost; it seems inconceivable that he could be permitted to leave this month.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Others do not talk about their symptom; they may not see their eating as a primary problem, or it seems inconceivable to them that anyone could help.
Bloom, Carol & Gitter, Andrea (contributor) & Gutwill, Susan (contributor) & Kogel,Laura (contributor) & Zaphiropoulos, Lela (contributor) Eating Problems: A Feminist Psychoanalytic Treatment Model (1994)
In other languages
inconceivable
British English: inconceivable ADJECTIVE
If you describe something as inconceivable, you think it is very unlikely to be true.
It was inconceivable to me that he could have been the attacker.
American English: inconceivable
Brazilian Portuguese: inconcebível
Chinese: 不可思议的
European Spanish: inconcebible
French: inconcevable
German: unvorstellbar
Italian: inconcepibile
Japanese: 想像もつかない
Korean: 생각조차 못 할
European Portuguese: inconcebível
Latin American Spanish: inconcebible
(adjective)
Definition
so unlikely to be true as to be unthinkable
It was inconceivable to me that he could have been my own father.
Synonyms
unimaginable
The children here have lived through unimaginable horrors.
impossible
You shouldn't promise what's impossible.
incredible
Do not dismiss as incredible the stories your children tell you.
staggering (informal)
unbelievable
I find it unbelievable that people can accept this sort of behaviour.
unthinkable
Monday's unthinkable tragedy
out of the question
Is a tax increase still out of the question?
incomprehensible
incomprehensible mathematics puzzles
unheard-of
It was unheard-of for someone so young to become a Member of Parliament.
mind-boggling (informal)
beyond belief
unknowable
not to be thought of
Opposites
possible
,
credible
,
plausible
,
conceivable
,
likely
,
reasonable
,
imaginable
,
believable
,
comprehensible
Additional synonyms
in the sense of impossible
Definition
not able to be done or to happen
You shouldn't promise what's impossible.
Synonyms
unachievable,
hopeless,
out of the question,
vain,
unthinkable,
inconceivable,
far-fetched,
unworkable,
implausible,
unattainable,
unobtainable,
beyond you,
not to be thought of
in the sense of incomprehensible
incomprehensible mathematics puzzles
Synonyms
obscure,
puzzling,
mysterious,
baffling,
enigmatic,
perplexing,
opaque,
impenetrable,
inscrutable,
unfathomable,
above your head,
beyond comprehension,
all Greek to you (informal),
beyond your grasp
in the sense of incredible
Definition
unbelievable
Do not dismiss as incredible the stories your children tell you.