Cool MateIncredible vs That's unbelievable
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Incredible
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adjective
That's unbelievable
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Incredible
| Incredible | That's unbelievable | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈkredəbl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈkredəbl/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðæts ˌʌnˈbiːləvəbl//🇺🇸 //ðæts ˌʌnˈbiːləvəbəl// |
| Meaning | Very surprising or hard to believe. | It's hard to believe; it's shocking. |
| Example | The magician's tricks were absolutely incredible! | When she won the lottery, I thought, 'That's unbelievable!' |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, seem, sound, really, truly, absolutely, to, be, seem, sound, really, truly, absolutely, to | That's unbelievable news, That's unbelievable behavior, That's unbelievable luck |
| 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. | Used in negative situations instead of positive ones., Saying 'This is unbelievable' instead of 'That's unbelievable' in conversations., Confusing with 'That's incredible' which has a more positive connotation. |
| 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. | Commonly used in casual conversation to express surprise or disbelief. Avoid in overly formal settings. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Incredible vs That's unbelievable
What's the difference between Incredible and That's unbelievable?
Incredible: Very surprising or hard to believe. That's unbelievable: It's hard to believe; it's shocking.
Which is more common: Incredible and That's unbelievable?
Incredible is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Incredible: The magician's tricks were absolutely incredible! That's unbelievable: When she won the lottery, I thought, 'That's unbelievable!'
Can I use Incredible and That's unbelievable interchangeably?
Not always. Incredible and That's 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.