barely conceivable that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barely conceivable that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express doubt or skepticism about the likelihood of a particular idea or situation being possible. Example: "Given the evidence presented, it is barely conceivable that the theory could hold true."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

On this evidence, it is barely conceivable that those in blue had hoisted the trophy only 16 months ago.

The Guardian - Sport

Given the recent lessons of the Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq war, it seems barely conceivable that we could be unwittingly repeating the calamitous mistakes of Iraq.

The Guardian - Opinion

I think that's why he's still read nowadays, and more widely than during his lifetime, when he was rather underappreciated (it's still barely conceivable that the magnificent The Third Policeman couldn't find a publisher until after death).

The Guardian - Books

It is barely conceivable that Jews, after running their own vibrant polity for half a century and praying for a return to their ancestral homeland for two millennia, would quietly submit to Palestinian majority rule, however idealistic its proponents.

The Economist

It seems barely conceivable that, six months after the introduction of health reforms which were so badly botched that the secretary of state was sacked, the Conservatives are winning the war of words on the NHS.

The Guardian

Yet it is barely conceivable that the Palestinians would ever accept a state that excluded all of Jerusalem.Mr Netanyahu has made clear that he will not countenance the bulk of the West Bank's settlers being pushed out in order to let the Palestinians have their state.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

From a distance, that idea seems obvious, but these folk were having to make their medium up as they went along, fuelled by the sort of rushed and sleepless inventiveness that is barely conceivable beyond American shores.

The New Yorker

Even as the two candidates argue over the wisdom of the war and keeping American troops there, security in Iraq has improved vastly, as has the confidence of Iraq's government and military and police, raising the prospect of additional reductions that were barely conceivable a year ago.

The New York Times

But now she went on, "That's just barely conceivable, just about one chance in a million, and so long as there if that chance, so long as we don't absolutely know to the contrary, I'm not going to dismiss the possibility entirely from my mind.

The New Yorker

In the book, the Lost Boys — and their minder, Judy Bernstein, who accompanied them to Surf City — describe horrors that sound barely conceivable in Orange County, from walking for days without food to dodging murderous government militias.

Los Angeles Times

These were the nights, he said, when Stamford Bridge tended to be at its best and he argued, with some justification, that it was barely conceivable to think the players Di Matteo had inherited from André Villas-Boas would be as vulnerable as they were in Italy.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "barely conceivable that" to express strong doubt or skepticism, but be mindful that it implies the situation isn't entirely impossible. It's more suitable when there's a tiny, albeit improbable, chance.

Common error

Avoid using "barely conceivable that" when describing truly impossible scenarios. The phrase suggests a slight possibility, so opt for stronger terms like "impossible" or "unthinkable" if appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely conceivable that" functions as a modal expression, qualifying the possibility of a situation. It indicates a low degree of likelihood, implying something is difficult to believe or imagine, yet not entirely impossible. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

22%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "barely conceivable that" is a grammatically correct expression used to convey a low degree of possibility or believability. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for expressing skepticism or surprise while acknowledging a slim chance of occurrence. While found primarily in news and media contexts, its formality ranges from neutral to formal, fitting for a variety of writing styles. When using this phrase, consider whether a stronger expression of impossibility might be more appropriate if there's truly no chance of the event happening. For alternatives, consider "hardly imaginable that" or "scarcely believable that".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hardly imaginable that

Emphasizes the difficulty in forming a mental image or scenario.

scarcely believable that

Focuses on the lack of credibility or trustworthiness of a statement or situation.

difficult to believe that

Highlights the challenge in accepting something as true.

almost impossible that

Indicates a very low probability of something occurring.

unlikely that

Suggests a low chance of something happening.

remote possibility that

Implies a distant and improbable chance.

doubtful that

Expresses skepticism about the likelihood of something.

stretches credibility to think that

Highlights that believing something requires a considerable leap of faith.

pushes the bounds of imagination that

Suggests something is so far-fetched that it is hard to visualize.

borders on the absurd that

Indicates something is so improbable it is almost ridiculous.

FAQs

How can I use "barely conceivable that" in a sentence?

The phrase "barely conceivable that" is used to express that something is difficult to believe or imagine. For example: "It is barely conceivable that they would agree to such terms."

What are some alternatives to "barely conceivable that"?

You can use alternatives like "hardly imaginable that", "scarcely believable that", or "difficult to believe that" depending on the context.

Is "barely conceivable that" formal or informal?

"Barely conceivable that" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it's more common in writing than in casual conversation. Consider your audience and the tone of your writing when deciding whether to use this phrase.

What's the difference between "barely conceivable that" and "inconceivable that"?

"Barely conceivable that" suggests a very low probability or a slight possibility, whereas "inconceivable that" implies something is impossible to imagine or believe. The former leaves a tiny window of possibility, while the latter shuts it completely.