inconceivable
inconceivable — adjective
1. So extraordinary, extreme, or shocking that the human mind cannot picture it or
So extraordinary, extreme, or shocking that the human mind cannot picture it or fully accept it as real.
It was inconceivable to Sumin that anyone could survive such a terrible car crash.
it + be + inconceivable + that-clause
The idea of life without the internet is almost inconceivable for Wren's younger brother.
subject + be + inconceivable + for [person]
A world without fresh water was utterly inconceivable to the villagers before the drought began.
It is inconceivable to me how a tiny seed can grow into a massive tree.
- unimaginable
More neutral; does not carry the same shock or moral weight — e.g. 'unimaginable wealth' vs 'inconceivable cruelty'.
- unthinkable
Stronger implication that the idea is too horrifying or absurd to be entertained — 'unthinkable' often implies a moral or practical impossibility.
- incredible
Less formal and broader in use, can mean 'amazing' without implying impossibility — 'an incredible story' might just be surprising, not inconceivable.
- conceivable
The direct opposite; something the mind can picture or accept as possible.
- imaginable
Close synonym of 'conceivable'; within the bounds of what one can picture.
文法句型
it + be + inconceivable + that-clause
it + be + inconceivable + to-infinitive
subject + be + inconceivable
用法筆記
Often used with dummy 'it' as subject, followed by a that-clause or wh-clause. Commonly appears in formal writing and serious news reporting about disasters, scientific discoveries, or moral questions.
常見錯誤
2. So extremely unlikely that it almost cannot happen or be true, even if the idea
So extremely unlikely that it almost cannot happen or be true, even if the idea is not literally impossible.
It is inconceivable that a company of that size would go bankrupt overnight.
it + be + inconceivable + that-clause (expressing extreme unlikelihood)
For Camille, spending six months abroad without learning any local language was inconceivable.
The exam being cancelled at the last minute seemed inconceivable to the students.
It is almost inconceivable that the rent would rise by fifty percent in one year.
- unbelievable
Less formal and more emotional; can mean 'surprising but true' whereas 'inconceivable' strongly implies 'not going to happen.'
- impossible
Stronger and more absolute; 'inconceivable' leaves a tiny margin of possibility, while 'impossible' rules it out entirely.
文法句型
it + be + inconceivable + that-clause
it + be + inconceivable + for + noun + to-infinitive
subject + seem/appear + inconceivable
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 does not suggest that something defies the imagination — only that it is extremely improbable. Use this sense when the focus is on likelihood rather than mental comprehension.