unfathomably
- adverb
- /ʌnˈfæðəməbli/
- He expressed his feelings in an unfathomably deep way that moved everyone.
- unfathomably deep
- unfathomably long
- unfathomably old
But that is an unfathomably extreme view of abortion.
- But that is an unfathomably extreme view of abortion.
- So it's an unfathomably large number.
Examples
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So it's an unfathomably large number.
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The depths of the ocean are unfathomably vast, making them hard to explore.
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These circumstances are unfathomably difficult and imperfect.
Blog text (12) -
The world is an almost unfathomably cruel place for him, filled with people and experiences he does not understand and finds strange and threatening.
Blog text (28) -
The actor doesn't doubt that both Rick and Lori still love each other deeply, but they are in an unfathomably terrible place right now.
Blog text (3) -
You know, I occupy myself mostly with texts, but sometimes the text can seem so … so empty, so unfathomably empty.
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Centuries of theological study and billions of people's unfathomably deep experiences are also ignored on a whim.
Blog text (24) -
Ron: I find it downright silly that you think our great-grandchildren are going to be unfathomably richer.
Blog text (16) -
She invited her companions to accompany her because she knows that after this voyage their lives will be rich and unfathomably deep, and that through them she will live.
Fiction book (1997) -
These contingent realities display both a remarkable unity and a fecund diversity; therefore, the source of such unity and diversity must be both essentially one and yet unfathomably rich.
Academic text (2006)
Synonyms
In a way that is very surprising and hard to believe
To a much higher level than usual
In a way that is very surprising or seems impossible
To a very great degree that seems like it cannot be true
In a way that cannot be explained or understood
In a way that makes people very surprised
To a degree that is very hard to believe
Very much in a way that is hard to describe
Making people feel very surprised
In a way that is so strong it is hard to put into words
It is very hard to understand
In a way that is very hard to imagine
An amount so great you cannot imagine
In a way that is very surprising and hard to understand
So strong that you cannot find words to describe it
In a way that people cannot understand
In a way that hides what someone feels and is hard to understand
So great that you cannot find words to describe it
How Extreme
Surface Forms
Morphology
unfathomably = unfathomable (semi-transparent) = un + fathom + able + ly
Forming the adverb from the adjective 'unfathomable' by adding the productive suffix '-ly' is a standard, clearly regular derivation.
Etymology
Unfathomably comes from un- 'not' and fathom, an old word meaning 'arms stretched out' that people used to measure how deep water was. So something unfathomably big or strange is 'not measurable' or 'not understandable', like a depth you cannot reach.