Unthinkably

Unthinkably describes something that is beyond the scope of being thought about; too great, extreme, or unusual to be conceived or imagined; practically inconceivable. It suggests a level of shock, disbelief, or almost impossible magnitude. The term often applies to scenarios, outcomes, or events that are so far outside the realm of normal experience or expectation that they are difficult to process mentally. It can emphasize an ethical failure, the severity of an event or concept, or the sheer improbability of something. It usually represents the limit of how far a person can stretch their ability to comprehend, contemplate, and even process reality.

Unthinkably meaning with examples

• The devastation wrought by the hurricane was unthinkably extensive, leaving communities reduced to rubble. Rescue efforts became nearly impossible as the area experienced unthinkably challenging conditions, and aid would take weeks to arrive. Many families now faced the unthinkably difficult reality of rebuilding their lives from nothing. This widespread despair left many in an unthinkably despondent state for a time.
• Before the invention of the internet, it was unthinkably easy to imagine a world connected by instantaneous global communication. Now that this technology exists, it is becoming unthinkably difficult to understand how things were done before. The information available in the world has become unthinkably complex, creating a constant stream of new information. This technological change led to new concepts that were once unthinkably difficult to achieve.
• The amount of wealth accumulated by some individuals is, by traditional standards, unthinkably excessive, considering how many live in poverty. The gap between the wealthiest and poorest has grown to an unthinkably large size. This wealth disparity leads to economic inequalities, forcing many to struggle with unthinkably difficult living conditions. For many this becomes an unthinkably difficult obstacle to overcome.
• Winning the lottery seemed unthinkably lucky, until the winner was asked to reveal their secret, or to share some of their wealth. The impact of his winning could have been unthinkably positive to others. The winner had to face an unthinkably fast change in lifestyle. Many people now consider the winner as someone who would have to experience an unthinkably difficult future.