it defied explanation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it defied explanation" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation, event, or phenomenon that is difficult or impossible to explain or understand. Example: "The sudden appearance of the mysterious lights in the sky defied explanation, leaving scientists baffled."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

This process of droplet aggregation sometimes happens so quickly that it defies explanation.

MIT Technology Review

"When people say you need Xpercentt of preretirement income, it defies explanation," he continued.

The New York Times

It defies explanation, really, but those imperfections reinforced the Yankees' mantra, that Lee, talented as he is, is not invincible.

The New York Times - Sports

It defies explanation for any government to react to new details about systemic advantages for the rich and powerful by cutting taxes on the rich and powerful.

Vice

The philosopher David Chalmers has called the very existence of subjective experience the "hard problem". It is hard because it defies explanation in terms of mechanisms.

HuffPost

"It was the one thing that defied explanation".

The Guardian

Both paintings also characterize Guston's beguiling and puzzling last stage, one which defied explanation but was as fresh as it was inventive.

Columbia University

If one discards the notion that Zapruder recorded the shooting sequence in full, it has the virtue of solving several puzzles that have consistently defied explanation.

The New York Times

But Jeter's slump defied explanation.

The New York Times - Sports

But the weapon that killed his granddaughter defied explanation.

The New York Times - Sports

Several spacecraft including Curiosity have detected whiffs of this gas that "defied explanation," Webster said.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it defied explanation" to describe events, phenomena, or situations that are genuinely puzzling and resist easy or straightforward explanations. This can add emphasis to the mysterious or inexplicable nature of the subject.

Common error

Avoid using "it defied explanation" for situations that are merely complex or require further investigation. Reserve it for truly baffling scenarios to maintain its impact and avoid sounding overly dramatic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it defied explanation" functions as a statement expressing the inability to explain or understand something. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. It highlights the mysterious or puzzling nature of a subject.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it defied explanation" is a phrase used to express the impossibility or extreme difficulty of explaining something. Ludwig AI says that the phrase is grammatically sound and usable in English. While versatile across different registers, it's best reserved for situations that are genuinely puzzling to avoid overuse. Related phrases include "it was inexplicable" and "it was unfathomable". Because Ludwig did not find usage examples, that means that the frequency of use is low.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was unexplainable

A more direct synonym, simply stating something cannot be explained.

it was inexplicable

Replaces "defied explanation" with a single adjective meaning unable to be explained.

it eluded understanding

Similar to defied explanation but focuses on understanding rather than explanation.

it was beyond comprehension

Focuses on the inability to understand something rather than explain it.

it was unfathomable

Highlights the depth and complexity making something difficult to grasp.

it resisted interpretation

Suggests active resistance to being understood or explained.

it was perplexing

Emphasizes the confusing nature of something.

it was a mystery

Implies a lack of understanding and something unknown.

it beggared belief

Indicates something is so extraordinary it's hard to believe or explain.

there was no accounting for it

Suggests that there's no rational way to explain an event or situation.

FAQs

How can I use "it defied explanation" in a sentence?

Use "it defied explanation" when referring to something that is impossible or extremely difficult to explain. For example, "The sudden disappearance of the aircraft "it defied explanation"."

What are some alternatives to "it defied explanation"?

You can use alternatives like "it was inexplicable", "it was unfathomable", or "it was unexplainable" to convey a similar meaning.

Is "it defied explanation" formal or informal?

"It defied explanation" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, depending on the surrounding language and the specific situation.

What does "it defied explanation" imply?

It implies that something is so puzzling or mysterious that it resists any attempt to understand or explain it through conventional means.