That's crazy vs That's fucked up vs That's unbelievable

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

That's crazy

InformalTop 2,000 (common)

That's fucked up

VulgarTop 2,000 (common)

That's unbelievable

Top 2,000 (common)
Most formal: That's unbelievable
 That's crazyThat's fucked upThat's unbelievable
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //ðæts ˈkreɪzi//🇺🇸 //ðæts ˈkreɪzi//🇬🇧 //ðæts fʌkt ʌp//🇺🇸 //ðæts fʌkt ʌp//🇬🇧 //ðæts ˌʌnˈbiːləvəbl//🇺🇸 //ðæts ˌʌnˈbiːləvəbəl//
MeaningThat's unbelievable or surprising.It means something is very wrong or unfair.It's hard to believe; it's shocking.
ExampleDid she really win the lottery? That's crazy!When I heard they fired her for no reason, I thought, 'That's fucked up.'When she won the lottery, I thought, 'That's unbelievable!'
RegisterInformalVulgarNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 2,000 (common)Top 2,000 (common)
Collocationsthat's insane, you can't be serious, seriously, that's crazysay that's fucked up, think that's fucked up, feel that's fucked upThat's unbelievable news, That's unbelievable behavior, That's unbelievable luck
Common mistakesUsed in formal contexts where it's inappropriate., Confused with 'that's insane' — similar, but can imply more seriousness.Using in a formal context, which can be inappropriate., Confusing with lighter expressions of discontent., Not understanding the strong emotion behind the phrase.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 notesUsed in casual conversations to express disbelief or surprise, typically among friends. Avoid in formal settings or professional communication.Use in informal conversations to express strong disapproval or disbelief. Avoid in formal settings.Commonly used in casual conversation to express surprise or disbelief. Avoid in overly formal settings.

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That's crazy
That's fucked up
That's unbelievable

Frequently asked questions: That's crazy vs That's fucked up vs That's unbelievable

What's the difference between That's crazy, That's fucked up, and That's unbelievable?

That's crazy: That's unbelievable or surprising. That's fucked up: It means something is very wrong or unfair. That's unbelievable: It's hard to believe; it's shocking.

Which is more formal: That's crazy, That's fucked up, and That's unbelievable?

That's unbelievable is the most formal of these.

Can you show an example of each?

That's crazy: Did she really win the lottery? That's crazy! That's fucked up: When I heard they fired her for no reason, I thought, 'That's fucked up.' That's unbelievable: When she won the lottery, I thought, 'That's unbelievable!'

Can I use That's crazy, That's fucked up, and That's unbelievable interchangeably?

Not always. That's crazy, That's fucked up, 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.

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