it seemed unthinkable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it seemed unthinkable" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express disbelief or incredulity about a situation or event that appears impossible or hard to comprehend. Example: "When the news broke, it seemed unthinkable that such a tragedy could occur in our small town."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

It seemed unthinkable.

The Guardian - Books

It seemed unthinkable only a few months ago.

The New York Times

From the moment he said good night at the 2011 Golden Globes, it seemed unthinkable he'd be invited back.

The New York Times

It seemed unthinkable when the second seed went a break up in the third set, yet Tsonga broke straight back.

Independent

It seemed unthinkable that anyone would arrange for a child to see her own father gunned down.

The New York Times

"A month ago, it seemed unthinkable to discuss AIDS in the Security Council," says Mark Malloch Brown, head of the UN Development Programme.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

If not, however, it seems unthinkable that the FCC and its current leadership can walk away from this unscathed.

TechCrunch

It seems unthinkable today that an event might continue to its conclusion in the face of such carnage.

The Guardian - Sport

It seems unthinkable that Harris once considered playing for England.

The Guardian - Sport

It seems unthinkable, it seems impossible, but impossible is what engineering does best.

The Guardian

And it seems unthinkable that anybody would allow Black to run a large corporation again.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Follow "it seemed unthinkable" with a 'that' clause to specify the unbelievable event or situation. For example: "It seemed unthinkable that he would betray us."

Common error

Avoid using "it seems unthinkable" when referring to a past event. The correct form, "it seemed unthinkable", indicates that the feeling of disbelief was experienced in the past. Using the present tense inappropriately can confuse the timeline and weaken the impact of your statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it seemed unthinkable" functions as an evaluative expression, conveying a sense of disbelief or incredulity regarding a past event or situation. Ludwig confirms its proper usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Wiki

6%

Science

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it seemed unthinkable" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to convey a sense of disbelief or incredulity regarding past events. As confirmed by Ludwig, its usage spans across various reputable sources, primarily in news and media. While it maintains a neutral register, its versatility allows for effective communication in numerous scenarios. Remember to use the correct tense to ensure clarity and impact. The related phrases offer a range of alternatives to enrich your writing and provide nuances, and the tips provided serve to help prevent the most common mistakes. In conclusion, the phrase "it seemed unthinkable" is an expression with the right usage, is unlikely to be misinterpreted, and very helpful to convey a sense of disbelief or incredulity about a past event.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it appeared unimaginable

Replaces 'seemed' with 'appeared' and 'unthinkable' with 'unimaginable', slightly altering the tone but maintaining the core meaning.

it felt impossible

Changes 'seemed unthinkable' to 'felt impossible', emphasizing a subjective feeling of impossibility.

it looked inconceivable

Substitutes 'seemed' with 'looked' and 'unthinkable' with 'inconceivable', focusing on the visual aspect of something being hard to believe.

it was scarcely believable

Emphasizes the difficulty in believing something, adding a touch of incredulity.

it defied belief

Uses a more active voice, suggesting that something actively resists being believed.

it was beyond comprehension

Replaces the entire phrase with one indicating a lack of understanding rather than disbelief.

it verged on the impossible

Indicates that something was very close to being impossible.

it was a remote possibility

Expresses that something was unlikely but not entirely impossible.

it was out of the question

Implies something was not even worth considering, a stronger rejection of possibility.

it was a long shot

Denotes that the probability of something occurring was low

FAQs

How can I use "it seemed unthinkable" in a sentence?

You can use "it seemed unthinkable" to express disbelief or incredulity about a past event or situation. For example, "It seemed unthinkable that she would leave her job after all these years".

What are some alternatives to "it seemed unthinkable"?

You can use alternatives such as "it appeared unimaginable", "it felt impossible", or "it looked inconceivable" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "it seems unthinkable" instead of "it seemed unthinkable"?

While "it seemed unthinkable" refers to a past perception, "it seems unthinkable" refers to a present perception. Choose the tense that accurately reflects when the feeling of disbelief occurred.

What is the difference between "it seemed unthinkable" and "it was impossible"?

"It seemed unthinkable" suggests a subjective feeling of disbelief or improbability, while "it was impossible" states an objective impossibility. The former implies a perception, while the latter implies a factual constraint.