the unthinkable

noun

: something that one cannot accept, believe, or imagine
especially : something that is so bad that one does not want to think about it
And then, the unthinkable happened: the car skidded out of control and crashed.

Examples of the unthinkable in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In 2013, Amy Cohen experienced the unthinkable for a parent. Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 15 May 2025 Incredibly, this casual nod toward the unthinkable—a nuclear war—represents a de-escalation for Putin. Kevin Sabet, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025 The Butch and Sundance partnership ended in heartbreak in the Season 1 finale, when Reece confronted Edwards on his sailboat with the unthinkable: Edwards, his Navy SEAL brother, was part of the conspiracy that sabotaged Reece's operation. Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 29 May 2025 Just weeks before the start of Comic-Con’s annual gathering, where more than 135,000 people would soon be filling the city’s convention center, the unthinkable happened. Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for the unthinkable

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“The unthinkable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20unthinkable. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!