hardly believable

USAGE SUMMARY

"hardly believable" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to describe something that is difficult to believe or seems unlikely to be true. Example: The plot twist in the novel was so unexpected and hardly believable, but it kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

There are deep, visible (hardly believable) social differences between the poor masses and members of the elite.

The Guardian

Dylan wins his Nobel in the same year that the prize is not awarded to any women across any of its fields, which seems hardly believable.

The Guardian - Music

When, as part of my administrative duties, I did a survey of the grading practices of the professors in one of my departments six years ago, the results were hardly believable.

Princeton University

Tastes and circumstances change so fast that it is often hardly believable that this is what we did then, this is how we lived, this is what we all worried about.

The Guardian

But it is hardly believable that the lady will in the long run be 100% accurate.

SEP

Nestled in trees and surrounded by a garden, it's hardly believable the home is, according to the listing, a mere "15 minute drive from the UWS of Manhattan".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

This was barely believable.

The Guardian - Sport

This is scarcely believable.

The Guardian - Opinion

It's scarcely believable.

The Telegraph

Genuinely, barely believable.

The Guardian - Sport

The scene was barely believable.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hardly believable" to express skepticism or mild disbelief, rather than outright rejection. It suggests something is improbable but not necessarily impossible.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "hardly believable" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "I don't believe it" or "That's hard to believe" in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hardly believable" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun. It expresses a level of doubt or skepticism about the truth or validity of something. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

33%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hardly believable" is a grammatically sound adjective phrase used to express doubt or skepticism. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is valid and the provided examples showcase its application in various contexts, primarily within news, academic, and scientific domains. While not as common as other expressions of disbelief, it offers a nuanced way to indicate that something is improbable without entirely dismissing its possibility. When writing, be mindful of the register and choose simpler alternatives in informal situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Barely believable

Uses "barely" to suggest something is only just believable, implying a higher degree of doubt than "hardly believable".

Scarcely believable

Replaces "hardly" with "scarcely", conveying a similar meaning of something being unlikely to be believed.

Difficult to believe

A more direct way of saying something is not easily believed, removing the subtlety of "hardly".

Unlikely to be true

Shifts the focus from belief to truth, suggesting the statement is improbable.

Implausible

A single-word alternative that means not seeming reasonable or probable.

Doubtful

Indicates uncertainty or skepticism about something.

Questionable

Suggests that something is open to doubt or suspicion.

Hard to accept

Focuses on the difficulty of accepting something as true, rather than believing it.

Strains credulity

A more formal phrase indicating that something is difficult to believe because it seems improbable or far-fetched.

Beyond belief

Emphasizes the extreme unlikelihood of something being true or believable.

FAQs

How can I use "hardly believable" in a sentence?

You can use "hardly believable" to describe situations or claims that seem improbable or difficult to accept. For example: "The excuse he gave for being late was "hardly believable"."

What's a less formal alternative to "hardly believable"?

In less formal contexts, you could use phrases like "not very likely", "I don't buy it", or "that's a stretch" instead of "hardly believable".

Is "hardly believable" the same as "unbelievable"?

While both suggest disbelief, "hardly believable" implies a milder degree of skepticism. "Unbelievable" suggests something is completely impossible to believe, while "hardly believable" suggests it's improbable but not necessarily impossible.

What are some synonyms for "hardly believable"?

Synonyms include "scarcely believable", "barely believable", "difficult to believe", and "implausible".