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
But surviving the unthinkable became her turning point.
—
Diana Fishbein, Chicago Tribune, 29 July 2025
This spring, the U.K. government finally did the unthinkable and closed the non-dom loophole.
—Andrew Leahey, Forbes.com, 20 July 2025
In Texas, the tragedy on the banks of the Guadalupe River has left many reeling over how to prevent the unthinkable.
—Michael Loria, USA Today, 8 July 2025
The unlikely group met other castaways and figured out how to navigate the unthinkable, introducing audiences to a unique brand of comedy.
—Angela Andaloro, People.com, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for the unthinkable
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.
Diana Fishbein, Chicago Tribune, 29 July 2025
This spring, the U.K. government finally did the unthinkable and closed the non-dom loophole.
—Andrew Leahey, Forbes.com, 20 July 2025
In Texas, the tragedy on the banks of the Guadalupe River has left many reeling over how to prevent the unthinkable.
—Michael Loria, USA Today, 8 July 2025
The unlikely group met other castaways and figured out how to navigate the unthinkable, introducing audiences to a unique brand of comedy.
—Angela Andaloro, People.com, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for the unthinkable
Cite this Entry
“The unthinkable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20unthinkable. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share