unbelievable
/,ʌnbi'li:və/
Definition
- Adjective:
- Too improbable to be believed; not credible: Describes something so unlikely or extraordinary that it is difficult or impossible to accept as true.
- Extremely impressive or remarkable; astonishing: Used informally to describe something that is extraordinarily good, bad, or surprising.
Usage
The adjective "unbelievable" is used to express extreme doubt about the truth of a statement or to emphasize the exceptional nature of an event, quality, or situation. It can carry either a negative connotation (skepticism) or a positive one (amazement), depending on context.
Examples
- Expressing skepticism:
- His excuse for being late was simply unbelievable.
- The witness told an unbelievable story that the jury did not accept.
- Expressing amazement or being impressed:
- She showed unbelievable courage during the crisis.
- The concert last night was unbelievable!
Advanced Usage
- "the unbelievable": Used as a noun phrase to refer to things that are beyond belief.
- He has a talent for achieving the unbelievable.
- "unbelievably" (adverb): In a manner that is hard to believe; extremely.
- The car was unbelievably expensive.
- She sang unbelievably well.
Variants and Related Words
- Incredible (adj.): Very difficult to believe; extraordinary. Often used interchangeably with "unbelievable" in informal contexts to express amazement.
- Implausible (adj.): Not seeming reasonable or probable; failing to convince. This is a more formal synonym for the "not credible" sense.
- Astonishing (adj.): Extremely surprising or amazing; causing astonishment.
- Unbeliever (n.): A person who does not believe, especially in a particular religious faith. (Note: This is a related but distinct noun form).
Synonyms
- Incredible
- Implausible
- Astonishing
- Unconvincing
- Preposterous
- Far-fetched
- Mind-blowing (informal, for the "amazing" sense)
Antonyms
- Believable
- Credible
- Plausible
- Convincing
- Ordinary
- Unremarkable
Idioms and Common Phrases
- "It's unbelievable!": A common exclamation of shock, surprise, or extreme admiration.
- Look at that sunset! It's unbelievable!
- "Strain credulity": A more formal phrase similar to "be unbelievable," meaning to be very hard to believe.
- The plot of the movie strains credulity.
Adjective
-
having a probability too low to inspire belief
-
beyond belief or understanding
-
at incredible speed
-
the book's plot is simply incredible
-
Khám phá thêm
Các từ liên quan
Từ đồng nghĩa
Từ trái nghĩa
Từ tương tự
Từ gần giống
Từ có nhắc đến "unbelievable"
