unthinkable

adjective

un·​think·​able ˌən-ˈthiŋ-kə-bəl How to pronounce unthinkable (audio)
Synonyms of unthinkablenext
1
: not capable of being grasped by the mind
2
: being contrary to what is reasonable, desirable, or probable : being out of the question
unthinkability noun
unthinkably adverb

Examples of unthinkable in a Sentence

to most people it seemed unthinkable that such a gentle man could be guilty of such awful crimes
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.
But football has repeatedly embraced innovations ​once viewed as unthinkable, from the back-pass rule to VAR and longer stoppage time. Andrew Greif, NBC news, 3 July 2026 Once unthinkable, Iran now knows how to make money by blocking access to the crucial waterway, and despite the treaty talks, is already making plans to do so. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 29 June 2026 Since then, mass shootings of this scale have been almost unthinkable. Oscar Schwartz, New Yorker, 29 June 2026 In the case of massive grid sabotage, AI could compound the chaos and lead to a starvation of city-dwellers unthinkable in modern times. Simon Sebag Montefiore, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for unthinkable

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unthinkable was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Unthinkable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unthinkable. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

unthinkable

adjective
un·​think·​able ˌən-ˈthiŋ-kə-bəl How to pronounce unthinkable (audio)
ˈən-
: not to be thought of or considered as possible
unthinkable cruelty

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