Master confusing words with ease
Inconceivable vs. Unthinkable
Inconceivable
/ˌɪnkənˈsiːvəbəl/Examples:
The complexity of space travel is inconceivable to most.Her skills in chess are inconceivable to her peers.An inconceivable chain of events led to his unexpected win.
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Antonyms:
Unthinkable
/ʌnˈθɪŋkəbəl/Examples:
To climb that summit alone was once unthinkable.The idea of peace seemed unthinkable in those times.Building a city underwater remains largely unthinkable.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Ways to tell them apart:
- Inconceivable often implies something is so unlikely or bizarre that it stretches the limits of belief.
- Unthinkable indicates that something is not even considered as a possibility due to it being bizarre, horrible, or forbidden.
- In many contexts, inconceivable tends to emphasize the inability to mentally grasp an idea, while unthinkable leans more towards moral or logical restrictions.
- If something is inconceivable, it might just be hard to imagine due to logic or complexity, but if it's unthinkable, it might be culturally or ethically unacceptable.
- Use inconceivable when highlighting the improbability that something could even happen, and unthinkable to stress its unimaginable nature due to extreme consequences.
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