scarcely believable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "scarcely believable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is difficult to accept as true or seems highly unlikely. Example: "The magician's final trick was so astonishing that it was scarcely believable."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

General

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Litvinenko's death – a scarcely believable Jacobean revenge tragedy – led the news around the world.

The Guardian

This is scarcely believable.

The Guardian - Opinion

It's scarcely believable.

The Telegraph

The money is scarcely believable.

The Guardian - Sport

A scarcely believable string of performances followed.

The Guardian - Sport

There was one final, scarcely believable scene.

The Guardian

And then there was the scarcely believable blackmail affair.

Independent

Those movies were themselves galleries of grotesques, scarcely believable.

The Guardian - Film

Scarcely believable, I know, but there you are.

The Guardian - Opinion

It's full of braggadocio, narcissism, and scarcely believable claims.

The New Yorker

But to see the Irish pack disintegrate in the scrums against England was scarcely believable.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "scarcely believable" to express a strong sense of disbelief or incredulity when describing events, claims, or situations that seem highly improbable or unlikely.

Common error

While generally acceptable, overuse of "scarcely believable" in very formal writing can detract from objectivity. Opt for more neutral language like "improbable" or "unlikely" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scarcely believable" functions as an adjective phrase. As Ludwig AI explains, it describes something that is difficult to accept as true or seems highly unlikely. Examples in Ludwig show it modifying nouns like "scene", "claims", and "accuracy".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Sport

25%

General

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "scarcely believable" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adjective phrase for expressing disbelief or incredulity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively conveys that something is difficult to accept as true. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, as shown by Ludwig examples, it maintains a neutral register and offers impact. For more formal writing, alternatives like "improbable" may be considered. Overall, "scarcely believable" is a versatile and impactful way to express that something seems highly unlikely.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hardly credible

Focuses on the lack of credibility rather than the difficulty in believing.

difficult to credit

Emphasizes the challenge in accepting something as true.

almost impossible to believe

Highlights the extreme unlikelihood of something being true.

barely imaginable

Shifts the focus to the difficulty in imagining something.

near unbelievable

Indicates something is close to being unbelievable.

tough to swallow

An idiomatic expression indicating something is difficult to accept.

strains credulity

A more formal way of saying something is difficult to believe.

defies belief

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

beggars description

Indicates something is beyond the ability to be described, often due to its unbelievable nature.

passes comprehension

Emphasizes that something is beyond understanding.

FAQs

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

You can use "scarcely believable" to describe events or situations that are hard to accept as true. For example: "The magician's final trick was so astonishing that it was scarcely believable."

What are some alternatives to "scarcely believable"?

You can use alternatives like "hardly credible", "difficult to credit", or "almost impossible to believe" depending on the context.

Is "scarcely believable" formal or informal?

"Scarcely believable" is generally considered appropriate for both formal and informal contexts, although it is more commonly found in journalistic or narrative writing.

What's the difference between "scarcely believable" and "hard to believe"?

While both phrases express disbelief, "scarcely believable" often conveys a stronger sense of incredulity than "hard to believe". "Scarcely believable" suggests something is exceptionally difficult to accept as true.