😲 Strong refusal 🚫 Not able 🙅 Inability

cannot

1 9.9

An exclamation showing strong refusal or disbelief

interjection
/ˈkænɒt/

Archaic

: ¡imposible!

In my wildest dreams, I cannot imagine living without you.

Examples

You cannot ignore the importance of kindness in difficult times.
It does not, it cannot, it will not.
You cannot die, you cannot grow old, You cannot sin.
CANNOT CRY ABOUT IT.

Bogus (1996)
CANNOT BE CHANGED!

Blog text (29)
He thought he could persuade her, but she said, "I simply cannot be swayed."

Synonyms

nuh

vscannot

Informal

22 9.9

A short informal word people say to show disagreement

is a strong literary exclamation rather than a quick casual disagreement

nooooo

vscannot

Informal

7 9.5

A long loud cry that shows shock, protest, or disappointment

is a formal, literary denial rather than an emotional outburst

noooooo

vscannot

Informal

4 9.9

A long loud shout of no showing strong shock or sadness

is a rare literary exclamation rather than raw emotional cry

heck no

vscannot

Informal

8.9

A strong way to refuse a suggestion or request

is rare and literary rather than casual and forceful

unpossible

vscannot

Informal

9.9

A word people say when they cannot believe something

is used seriously in rare contexts rather than as a joke

negatory

vscannot

Slang

9.0

A short informal way to say no, often on radio

is a rare or literary exclamation rather than casual slang

Antonyms

to accept

793 1.0

To take something someone offers, for example a gift or invitation

Surface Forms

cannot main

Morphology

cannot = can + not (transparent) = can + not

Same formal composition as the auxiliary use; as an exclamation it conveys negation or strong denial produced by combining 'can' + 'not'.

Etymology

Cannot is simply can + not, and can means 'to be able', so a shout of 'cannot!' is a short, strong way to say 'I cannot accept or believe this' or to refuse something loudly.