un ‧ think ‧ a ‧ ble /ʌnˈθɪŋkəb ə l/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ think , ↑ rethink , ↑ thinker , ↑ thinking , the unthinkable; verb : ↑ think , ↑ rethink ; adjective : ↑ thinkable ≠ ↑ unthinkable , ↑ thinking ≠ ↑ unthinking ; adverb : ↑ unthinkingly ]
1 . impossible to accept or imagine:
It is unthinkable that a mistake like this could have happened.
it would be unthinkable for somebody to do something
It would be unthinkable for me to stay anywhere but with the family.
2 . the unthinkable something that is impossible to accept or imagine:
Then the unthinkable happened and the boat started to sink.
It was the job of the committee to think the unthinkable (=plan for unexpected events or situations) .
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THESAURUS
▪ impossible something that is impossible cannot happen or be done:
It’s impossible to get a taxi around here.
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At times, finding a job felt like an impossible task.
▪ impractical something that is impractical is too expensive, takes too much time, is too difficult etc and therefore it is not sensible to try to do it:
It’s a nice idea, but it’s totally impractical.
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We cannot all just stop using our cars - that would be completely impractical.
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an impractical suggestion
▪ out of the question used when saying that something is completely impossible, especially because it is not allowed:
It’s out of the question for you to go alone.
▪ there’s no way informal used when saying that you think something is completely impossible:
There’s no way we can get to the airport in less than an hour.
▪ inconceivable impossible to imagine or believe:
It seemed inconceivable that there could be an end to the fighting in Northern Ireland.
▪ unthinkable impossible to imagine or believe - used especially about something that seems very shocking to people:
In those days it was unthinkable for a lady to work outside the home.
▪ unattainable impossible to achieve:
an unattainable goal
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Victory seemed unattainable.
▪ it can’t be done spoken used when saying very definitely that something is impossible:
I’m afraid it can’t be done.