Cool MateIncredible vs Really astonishing
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Incredible
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adjective
Really astonishing
Top 3,000 (common)
Most common: Incredible
| Incredible | Really astonishing | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈkredəbl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈkredəbl/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈrɪəli əˈstɒnɪʃɪŋ//🇺🇸 //ˈrɪli əˈstɑnɪʃɪŋ// |
| Meaning | Very surprising or hard to believe. | Very surprising or impressive. |
| Example | The magician's tricks were absolutely incredible! | The view from the mountain was really astonishing. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, seem, sound, really, truly, absolutely, to, be, seem, sound, really, truly, absolutely, to | really astonishing results, really astonishing story, really astonishing talent |
| Antonyms | ordinary, common, unremarkable | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'incredible' as a noun instead of an adjective., Confusing 'incredible' with 'incredulous' (which means unable to believe)., Overusing 'incredible' to describe everyday situations. | Using 'really' with weak adjectives like 'nice'., Confusing 'astonishing' with 'astonished' (the latter is a feeling)., Overusing 'really' instead of using other intensifiers. |
| Usage notes | Use 'incredible' to describe something amazing or extraordinary. It is appropriate in both casual and serious contexts, but avoid it in overly formal writing. | Use 'really astonishing' to emphasize surprise or impressiveness. Common in spoken and written English but avoid in formal academic writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Incredible vs Really astonishing
What's the difference between Incredible and Really astonishing?
Incredible: Very surprising or hard to believe. Really astonishing: Very surprising or impressive.
Which is more common: Incredible and Really astonishing?
Incredible is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Incredible: The magician's tricks were absolutely incredible! Really astonishing: The view from the mountain was really astonishing.
Can I use Incredible and Really astonishing interchangeably?
Not always. Incredible and Really astonishing 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.