Cool MateAmazing vs Incredible vs Unbelievable
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Amazing
Incredible
Unbelievable
| Amazing | Incredible | Unbelievable | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈmeɪzɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈmeɪzɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈkredəbl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈkredəbl/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ʌn.bɪˈliː.və.bəl//🇺🇸 //ʌn.bɪˈlivə.bəl// |
| Meaning | very good or impressive | Very surprising or hard to believe. | Not able to be believed; hard to accept as true. |
| Example | The view from the mountain top was simply amazing. | The magician's tricks were absolutely incredible! | His story about climbing Everest without oxygen was simply unbelievable. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, look, sound, absolutely, pretty, rather, be nothing short of amazing | be, seem, sound, really, truly, absolutely, to, be, seem, sound, really, truly, absolutely, to | unbelievable story, unbelievable situation, unbelievable coincidence, unbelievable talent, unbelievable prices |
| Antonyms | ordinary, unremarkable, boring | ordinary, common, unremarkable | credible, believable, plausible |
| Common mistakes | Overusing it for average things., Confusing it with 'amaze' as a verb., Using it in negative contexts incorrectly. | Using 'incredible' as a noun instead of an adjective., Confusing 'incredible' with 'incredulous' (which means unable to believe)., Overusing 'incredible' to describe everyday situations. | Confused with 'incredible' - both mean similar things but can have different connotations., Used too casually in serious contexts., Often mispronounced by stressing the wrong syllable. |
| Usage notes | Use 'amazing' to describe something that exceeds expectations. It’s appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, but avoid using it excessively in formal writing. | Use 'incredible' to describe something amazing or extraordinary. It is appropriate in both casual and serious contexts, but avoid it in overly formal writing. | Used to express astonishment or disbelief. It can be positive or negative depending on context (e.g., an unbelievable achievement vs. an unbelievable lie). |
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Frequently asked questions: Amazing vs Incredible vs Unbelievable
What's the difference between Amazing, Incredible, and Unbelievable?
Amazing: very good or impressive Incredible: Very surprising or hard to believe. Unbelievable: Not able to be believed; hard to accept as true.
Which is more advanced: Amazing, Incredible, and Unbelievable?
Incredible is the highest level, at A2, on the CEFR scale.
Can you show an example of each?
Amazing: The view from the mountain top was simply amazing. Incredible: The magician's tricks were absolutely incredible! Unbelievable: His story about climbing Everest without oxygen was simply unbelievable.
Can I use Amazing, Incredible, and Unbelievable interchangeably?
Not always. Amazing, Incredible, and Unbelievable are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.