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Pototan

(3,103 posts)
Sat Mar 21, 2026, 06:56 AM Saturday

I don't get the word "incredible"

If the word "insensitive" means you're not sensitive and the word "insincere" means you're not sincere, doesn't it stand to reason that "incredible" means that you're not credible?

"We have an incredible Attorney General". Wouldn't that mean she is not credible?

12 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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I don't get the word "incredible" (Original Post) Pototan Saturday OP
That is one definition UpInArms Saturday #1
Ya, I read the dictionary meaning Pototan Saturday #3
Terms of exaggeration aren't uncommon Happy Hoosier Saturday #9
Awful as in full of awe. The Wizard Saturday #2
That one has always bothered me. I suppose it's like the word "priceless." Intractable Saturday #4
Incredible and incredibly, are meaningless adjectives jimmy the one Saturday #5
Fine. Uncredible then Conjuay Saturday #6
Words are symbols for things. They are not the thing. multigraincracker Saturday #7
English can indeed be a rather confusing language..... anciano Saturday #8
I sometimes use it surreptitiously in that context bigtree Saturday #10
I share your opinion about the misuse of the word "incredible". CoopersDad Saturday #11
Incredible equals unbelievable Cerulean Southpaw Saturday #12

UpInArms

(54,910 posts)
1. That is one definition
Sat Mar 21, 2026, 07:02 AM
Saturday

incredible /ĭn-krĕd′ə-bəl/
adjective

So implausible as to elicit disbelief; unbelievable.

"gave an incredible explanation of the cause of the accident."

Astonishing, extraordinary, or extreme.

"dressed with incredible speed."

Not credible; surpassing belief; too extraordinary and improbable to admit of belief; unlikely; marvelous; fabulous.

Similar: unlikely marvelous fabulous

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition • More at Wordnik

Pototan

(3,103 posts)
3. Ya, I read the dictionary meaning
Sat Mar 21, 2026, 07:13 AM
Saturday

but it still will leave anyone learning English with confusion.

If Trump says that Bondi is an "incredible AG", I would agree with the part of the meaning that she is not credible (a liar)

Happy Hoosier

(9,529 posts)
9. Terms of exaggeration aren't uncommon
Sat Mar 21, 2026, 09:30 AM
Saturday

In other languages.

In German, there’s a word “unglaublich” which translates literally to “unbelievable” but is used similarly to “incredible.”

Intractable

(2,032 posts)
4. That one has always bothered me. I suppose it's like the word "priceless."
Sat Mar 21, 2026, 07:55 AM
Saturday

Seems to me, if that diamond is priceless, it's free and everyone should have one.

jimmy the one

(2,800 posts)
5. Incredible and incredibly, are meaningless adjectives
Sat Mar 21, 2026, 08:18 AM
Saturday

There is no comparable value or meaning to the words incredibly or incredible. You are gaslighting when you use them. Trying to make something sound more important than it really is.
The root word you are describing is generally descriptive enough, adding a superfluous superlative only diminishes your own credibility, no pun intended. I understand what is meant when someone is talented, but incredibly talented is how much more talented? A thousand times?
When someone uses incredible or incredibly they are usually either exaggerating, sensationalizing, embellishing or transmogrifying what they are talking about. Exception being the universe which is indeed incredible.
Defining someone as incredibly excited, sad, or angry - well they should probably lie down, elevate their legs, go to hospital and be sedated and held overnight for observation. I do not want to be around someone incredibly this or that.
Sounds like you are trying to sell pots and pans and knives on the internet or tv - incredible prices, incredible bargains, incredible deals, all this week, at your local department store - and we all should know by now the sales pitch con that is.
We should remove the two words incredibly and incredible from our general vernacular.
There are far better adjectives to use to describe what you are talking about.

multigraincracker

(37,572 posts)
7. Words are symbols for things. They are not the thing.
Sat Mar 21, 2026, 08:47 AM
Saturday

My problem with them is they tend to divide things into black and white, when in reality, it’s all grey.

anciano

(2,239 posts)
8. English can indeed be a rather confusing language.....
Sat Mar 21, 2026, 09:26 AM
Saturday

we drive on a parkway but park in a driveway.

CoopersDad

(3,318 posts)
11. I share your opinion about the misuse of the word "incredible".
Sat Mar 21, 2026, 10:25 AM
Saturday

The word is overused, it's lazy language.

Most of the time, "remarkable" would be the appropriate term.

12. Incredible equals unbelievable
Sat Mar 21, 2026, 10:49 AM
Saturday

Over time it came to something like "I can't believe how great this is!"

Another fun one is "terrific".

Horror - Horrible - Horrify - Horrific
Terror - Terrible - Terrify - Terrific?

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