French Conversation · Level 132
30 words
French word
invraisemblable
Pronunciation
IPA/ɛ̃vʁɛsɑ̃blabl/
Meaning
- adjectiveunbelievable
Example
Quelle histoire invraisemblable !
What an unbelievable story!
More examples
On dirait un mensonge tellement c'est invraisemblable.
It sounds like a lie because it's so unbelievable.
Core concept
An account that looks too unlikely to fit ordinary experience or logic.
Common phrases
tout à fait invraisemblable
quite unbelievable
vraiment invraisemblable
really unbelievable
presque invraisemblable
almost unbelievable
Similar words
incroyable: Remarkable enough to provoke strong surprise or wonder.
absurde: Lacking logical sense or rational justification.
improbable: Having little chance of occurring.
étonnant: Unexpected and surprising in nature.
Definition in French
Qui semble tellement contraire à l'expérience ou à la logique qu'on hésite à l'admettre comme vrai.
Word origin
The adjective combines in-, meaning not, with vraisemblable, whose parts relate to vrai and semblable, or what appears true.
Usage tips
- Invraisemblable stresses lack of plausibility, whereas incroyable can also describe something merely astonishing.
Other meanings
- implausibleadjective
- unlikelyadjective
Opposites
- vraisemblableplausibleadjective
- plausibleplausibleadjective
Related words
- invraisemblablementunbelievablyadverb
- vraisemblableplausibleadjective