English
incredible
Etymology

From Middle English incredible, from Latin incrēdibilis, from in- ("not") + crēdibilis ("worthy of belief"), from crēdō ("believe").

Pronunciation
  • (British) IPA: /ɪŋˈkɹɛdɪbəl/
  • (America) enPR: ĭngkrĕ'dəbəl, IPA: /ɪŋˈkɹɛdəbəl/, [ɪ̈ŋˈkɹ̥ʷɛɾəbəɫ], [ɪ̈ŋˈkɹ̥ʷɛɾəbɫ̩]
Adjective

incredible

  1. (literal) Too implausible to be credible; beyond belief. [from 15th c.]
    Synonyms: noncredible, unbelievable
    Antonyms: believable, credible
    • 1980 September 16, John Glenn, quoted in William A. Schwartz et al., The Nuclear Seduction: Why the Arms Race Doesn’t Matter—And What Does, University of California Press (1990, 1993), ISBN 0-520-06134-9, page 29 ↗:
      I get lost in what is credible and not credible. This whole thing gets so incredible when you consider wiping out whole nations, it is difficult to establish credibility.
    • 2009, Diarmaid MacCulloch, A History of Christianity, Penguin, published 2010, page 796:
      He therefore found revealed religion incredible in a literal sense, and, as Bayle had done before him, he radically separated morality from the practice of organized religion.
  2. (figurative) Amazing; astonishing; awe-inspiring.
    Synonyms: awesome, unbelievable
    Coordinate term: noncredible
    He was so wrapped up in watching the incredible special effects that he couldn't keep track of the story.
  3. (figurative) Marvellous; profoundly affecting; wonderful; excellent.
    Synonyms: awesome, unbelievable
    Coordinate term: noncredible
    I had such an incredible slice of pizza last night that I simply can't think about anything else.
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