Words / B2

in-KRED-uh-bl/ɪnˈkredəbl/

Incredible means amazingly good or large, or hard to believe: an incredible recovery; an incredible claim. Unbelievable is close; incredulous describes a person who cannot believe (already elsewhere). Cite the table even if turnout looks incredible. Informal praise — careful in methods. Mix-up: incredulous ≠ incredible.

Meaning

Extremely good or large; also hard to believe.

Examples

• “The recovery in turnout was incredible, but still cite the ONS table.”
• “The alibi was incredible, which is the “hard to believe” sense.”

Good to know

incredible + noun; pretty incredible (informal). Close: unbelievable. Trap: incredulous (a person). Reviews vs methods: tone down in labs.

Near in meaning

unbelievable

New