inconceivable

inconceivable — 形容詞

1. So extraordinary, extreme, or shocking that the human mind cannot picture it or

1.形容詞B2
釋義

難以想像

超出一般理解範圍的

So extraordinary, extreme, or shocking that the human mind cannot picture it or fully accept it as real.

例句

It was inconceivable to Sumin that anyone could survive such a terrible car crash.

Sumin 很難想像，有人竟然能從那麼嚴重的車禍中存活下來。

it + be + inconceivable + that-clause

The idea of life without the internet is almost inconceivable for Wren's younger brother.

Wren 的弟弟覺得，沒有網路的生活幾乎是難以想像的。

subject + be + inconceivable + for [person]

同義詞
  • 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.

反義詞
  • 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

❌It is inconceivable for me understanding the theory.
✅It is inconceivable for me to understand the theory.
💡Use 'to-infinitive', not a gerund after 'inconceivable for [person]'.
❌I am inconceivable that it rained.
✅It is inconceivable to me that it rained.
💡'Inconceivable' describes the situation, not a person's mental state. Use dummy 'it' + 'to [person]'.

2. So extremely unlikely that it almost cannot happen or be true, even if the idea

2.形容詞C1
釋義

極不可能

可能性極低的

So extremely unlikely that it almost cannot happen or be true, even if the idea is not literally impossible.

例句

It is inconceivable that a company of that size would go bankrupt overnight.

一家這麼大的公司在一夜之間倒閉，實在極不可能。

it + be + inconceivable + that-clause (expressing extreme unlikelihood)

For Camille, spending six months abroad without learning any local language was inconceivable.

對 Camille 來說，出國六個月卻不學任何當地語言，是極不可能的事。

同義詞
  • 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.

反義詞
  • likely

    The direct opposite on the probability scale.

  • plausible

    Something that can reasonably be expected or believed.

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.

常見錯誤

❌It is inconceivable to rain tomorrow.
✅It is inconceivable that it will rain tomorrow.
💡When expressing unlikelihood of an event, use a that-clause rather than a to-infinitive directly after 'inconceivable'.