cannot be imagined

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cannot be imagined" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express that something is beyond the capacity of one's imagination or understanding. Example: "The vastness of the universe is so immense that it cannot be imagined by the human mind."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

A more sun-blasted place cannot be imagined.

The New York Times - Travel

Moreover, papal primacy cannot be imagined without Gregory.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But, as in Ottawa, fear cannot be imagined away.

The New York Times

A grayer affair, in mood as in hue, cannot be imagined.

The New Yorker

He cannot be imagined drinking absinthe in Montmartre's cafes, or wearing a beret.

The Washington Post

Whatever form electoral reform takes, a system that repeats the past week cannot be imagined.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

They will also be responding in ways that cannot yet be imagined, and foreseeing scenarios that may be hard for the rest of us to discern.

The New Yorker

Poetry's stance toward language creates a particular intelligence of thought and feeling, a compressed articulation that expands inner experience, imagining with words what cannot always be imagined without them.

University of Chicago

Losing a child this way cannot even be imagined by most, and it's not surprising that Susan turned to drugs to throw a blanket over her grief.

HuffPost

But in the village, we were transported into a world that, quite simply, cannot even be imagined by someone from the West.

HuffPost

But that makes it all the more important to be careful with our words, so they cannot be even imagined as an incitement to violence.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider context when using "cannot be imagined". Ensure that the surrounding text provides enough context for the reader to grasp the scale or complexity of what you're describing, enhancing the phrase's impact.

Common error

Avoid using "cannot be imagined" in everyday or slightly unusual situations; reserve it for truly exceptional circumstances to prevent diluting its impact. Overusing it diminishes the phrase's power.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cannot be imagined" functions as a qualifier, typically modifying a noun or noun phrase to express the idea that something is beyond the scope of one's ability to visualize or comprehend. This is supported by Ludwig AI which confirms the correctness of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cannot be imagined" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, used to describe situations or concepts that are beyond the scope of human comprehension or visualization. Appearing commonly in news, academic, and scientific contexts, it effectively conveys the extraordinary or unprecedented nature of what is being described. While alternatives like "is unimaginable" or "is beyond comprehension" exist, "cannot be imagined" provides a specific emphasis on the limits of one's ability to form a mental picture. When using this phrase, it is essential to provide sufficient context and reserve it for situations that genuinely defy imagination to maintain its impactful effect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is inconceivable

Replaces the entire phrase with a single word suggesting impossibility to imagine.

is unimaginable

A single word alternative indicating the same concept.

defies imagination

Emphasizes the limits of one's imaginative capacity.

is beyond comprehension

Focuses on the lack of understanding rather than the inability to imagine.

is difficult to conceive

Indicates a challenge in forming a mental picture or understanding.

eludes understanding

Highlights the difficulty in grasping or comprehending something.

is beyond the realm of possibility

Shifts the focus to possibility rather than imagination, implying something is not feasible to conceive.

is beyond belief

Focuses on the incredibility of something, making it difficult to accept or imagine.

is hard to picture

A more informal alternative emphasizing the visual aspect of imagining.

is simply not possible

Shifts the emphasis to impossibility, stating something cannot occur or be.

FAQs

How can I use "cannot be imagined" in a sentence?

You can use "cannot be imagined" to describe something that is difficult or impossible to conceive, such as "The scale of the universe is so vast it "cannot be imagined"".

What can I say instead of "cannot be imagined"?

Alternatives include "is inconceivable", "is unimaginable", or "is beyond comprehension", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "can't be imagined"?

Yes, "can't be imagined" is a contraction of "cannot be imagined" and is perfectly acceptable in informal contexts. However, "cannot be imagined" is more suitable for formal writing.

What's the difference between "cannot be imagined" and "cannot be conceived"?

"Cannot be imagined" focuses on the difficulty of forming a mental picture, while "cannot be conceived" ("cannot be conceived") emphasizes the difficulty of understanding or formulating a concept. They are often interchangeable, but the nuance depends on whether you're highlighting visualization or conceptualization.