difficult to imagine that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to imagine that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing skepticism or doubt about a particular scenario or idea being plausible or believable. Example: "It's difficult to imagine that such a small change could have such a significant impact on the outcome."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"It's very difficult to imagine that scale of destruction today," he said.

The Guardian

It remains difficult to imagine that Wimbledon will close the gap entirely.

The New York Times - Sports

It is difficult to imagine that Musharraf will ever recover the political strength necessary to govern the country.

The New Yorker

Before 1966 there were no black officials in the mayor's cabinet; after 1973 it was difficult to imagine that world.

The New York Times - Arts

Initially most of the participants found it difficult to imagine that extreme heat or drought could affect them significantly.

International Journal of Disaster Risk Science

It's difficult to imagine that West has any intention of doing so.

Vice

In this view, it seems very difficult to imagine that bv.

Plosone

At first glance, it is difficult to imagine that Koumba has already given birth to seven children.

Unicef

More generally, under natural conditions in a finite population, it is difficult to imagine that changes in population size do not affect evolutionary dynamics.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

It's difficult to imagine that now.

The Guardian - Tech

Still, it's difficult to imagine that anyone but Atatürk would have seized it so fully.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "difficult to imagine that", ensure the context clearly establishes what makes the scenario hard to believe or conceive. Providing specific reasons or evidence strengthens your statement.

Common error

Avoid starting multiple consecutive sentences with "difficult to imagine that". Vary your sentence structure by using alternatives or rephrasing to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to imagine that" functions as an evaluative expression, conveying doubt or disbelief regarding a proposition. It sets a tone of skepticism, signaling that something is unlikely or hard to conceive. Ludwig AI examples support this by showcasing its use in contexts where assumptions are being challenged.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

36%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "difficult to imagine that" is a versatile expression used to convey skepticism or disbelief. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage across various reputable sources, with News & Media and Scientific domains being the most frequent contexts. While alternatives like "difficult to believe that" or "hard to imagine that" offer similar meanings, it's essential to ensure contextual relevance and avoid overuse. The phrase is best employed when providing clear reasons for the skepticism, strengthening the overall impact of the statement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to suppose that

Replaces "imagine" with "suppose", shifting the focus slightly towards a hypothetical consideration.

difficult to believe that

Substitutes "imagine" with "believe", emphasizing a lack of credibility or trustworthiness.

difficult to fathom that

Replaces "imagine" with "fathom", suggesting a challenge in understanding or comprehending the situation.

tough to imagine that

Uses "tough" instead of "difficult", making the phrase slightly more informal.

hard to imagine that

Uses "hard" instead of "difficult", making the phrase a bit more conversational.

challenging to conceive that

Replaces "difficult to imagine" with "challenging to conceive", increasing the formality.

unlikely to conceive that

Changes the focus to the unlikeliness of an event, rather than difficulty in imagining it.

implausible to imagine that

Emphasizes the lack of plausibility.

stretches the imagination to think that

This alternative is more descriptive and vivid than the original phrase, conveying a sense of something being hard to believe.

straining credulity to think that

This alternative is stronger and implies that something is so unlikely that it is difficult to believe.

FAQs

What does "difficult to imagine that" mean?

It expresses a sense of disbelief or skepticism towards a particular situation or idea, suggesting it is hard to conceive or consider plausible.

How can I use "difficult to imagine that" in a sentence?

You can use it to express doubt or disbelief, as in: "It's "difficult to imagine that" such a small change could have such a large impact."

What can I say instead of "difficult to imagine that"?

You can use alternatives like "difficult to believe that", "hard to imagine that", or "unlikely to happen" depending on the context.

Is there a more formal way to say "difficult to imagine that"?

Yes, you could use phrases like "challenging to conceive that" or "implausible to imagine that" for a more formal tone.