is inconceivable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is inconceivable" is a grammatically correct sentence in written English.
You can use this phrase to describe something so surprising or unlikely that it is hard to believe. For example: "The idea that an ancient civilization built the pyramids without the use of wheels or modern tools is inconceivable."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It is inconceivable.

The New York Times - Health

"And that is inconceivable".

Independent

That is inconceivable now.

Harvard University

My absence is inconceivable.

The New Yorker

The idea is inconceivable.

The New York Times

It is inconceivable, or was.

The New York Times

Sceptics say that this is inconceivable.

The Economist

The first is inconceivable for Russia.

The Economist

Democracy to you is inconceivable.

The New York Times

A third U.S war is inconceivable.

The New York Times

Darwin's work is inconceivable without Cuvier's discoveries.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is inconceivable" to express a strong sense of disbelief or impossibility. It is effective when emphasizing the unlikelihood of a situation or idea.

Common error

Avoid using "is inconceivable" for situations that are merely unlikely or surprising. Reserve it for truly extraordinary or unbelievable scenarios to maintain its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is inconceivable" functions as a predicate adjective, describing a subject as being impossible or extremely difficult to believe. This is supported by Ludwig AI's assessment and the numerous examples where the phrase attributes a quality of unbelievability to a preceding noun or idea.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Science

13%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "is inconceivable" is a phrase used to express strong disbelief or impossibility. It functions grammatically as a predicate adjective and is most frequently found in news and media contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, and the examples illustrate its versatile usage across various domains. While the phrase is generally appropriate, it's best reserved for situations that genuinely warrant a sense of extreme unlikelihood to maintain its effectiveness. Alternatives like "is unimaginable" or "is unthinkable" can be used for slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is unimaginable

Replaces "inconceivable" with a focus on the difficulty of imagining something.

is unthinkable

Suggests that something is not only difficult to imagine but also morally or practically unacceptable.

is beyond belief

Emphasizes the extreme nature of something, making it hard to believe.

is out of the question

Indicates that something is not a possibility or an option.

is not an option

Directly states that something is not a viable choice.

is not possible

A straightforward way to express that something cannot happen.

is unrealistic

Highlights the impracticality of something.

is absurd

Implies that something is ridiculous and makes no sense.

is preposterous

Conveys that something is utterly foolish and unbelievable.

defies comprehension

Highlights the difficulty in understanding something, making it seem impossible.

FAQs

How can I use "is inconceivable" in a sentence?

Use "is inconceivable" to express that something is impossible or extremely difficult to believe. For example, "It "is inconceivable" that he would betray his friends."

What phrases can I use instead of "is inconceivable"?

You can use alternatives such as "is unimaginable", "is unthinkable", or "is beyond belief" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "is inconceivable" or "is impossible"?

"Is impossible" is more direct, while "is inconceivable" implies a stronger sense of disbelief or unlikelihood. The choice depends on the degree of emphasis you want to convey.

What's the difference between "is inconceivable" and "is incomprehensible"?

"Is inconceivable" means difficult to believe or imagine, while "is incomprehensible" means difficult to understand. Something incomprehensible may be understandable with effort, but something inconceivable is inherently unbelievable.