What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
incomprehensible
Example
The professor's lecture was incomprehensible to most of the students. [incomprehensible: adjective]
Example
The instructions for assembling the furniture were incomprehensible, even with the help of the manual. [incomprehensible: adjective]
inexplicable
Example
The sudden disappearance of the plane remains inexplicable to this day. [inexplicable: adjective]
Example
I have this inexplicable feeling of unease whenever I'm in that house. [inexplicable: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Incomprehensible is more commonly used than inexplicable in everyday language. Incomprehensible is a versatile word that can be used in various contexts, while inexplicable is more specific and tends to be used in more formal or literary contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between incomprehensible and inexplicable?
Inexplicable is generally considered more formal than incomprehensible. While both words can be used in formal contexts, inexplicable is more likely to be used in academic or literary writing.
