UNCONVINCING Synonyms: 66 Similar and Opposite Words

unconvincing

adjective

ˌən-kən-ˈvin(t)-siŋ

Definition of unconvincing

as in incredulous

too extraordinary or improbable to believe the excuse for her tardiness was too unconvincing to be accepted

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of unconvincing The novelist and journalist Mary McCarthy, by contrast, is discussed at length, though her inclusion even in the second sense seems unconvincing. — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026 Judge Sweeney found this defense unconvincing; the presence of both athletes who stay in school past their NCAA eligibility and incoming freshmen arguably creates more, not less, competition. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 1 Aug. 2026 This discovery stunned de Man’s colleagues and students, and was particularly traumatic for Derrida, who attempted a tortured but ultimately unconvincing reckoning with what his friend had written as a young man. — Literary Hub, 30 July 2026 This is not to say that the journey Nolan takes is not worthwhile, nor Damon’s performance is unconvincing. — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 21 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for unconvincing

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unconvincing

Adjective

In a true turn of events that would seem almost incredulous in a Hollywood script, the boss of a now defunct production company that specialized in true crime is wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

— Dominic Patten, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026
The title comes from a phrase that became part of his creative vocabulary and began appearing in sketches whenever an absurd situation called for a perfectly incredulous response.

— Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of incredulous

Adjective

In a moment when global power is concentrated in the hands of a small group of weird men with a lot of relationship drama, War doesn’t ever seem too implausible.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026
In fact, this scenario would have been implausible until the last couple of years.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of implausible

Adjective

Well, not necessarily unhittable, but impossible to score runs against.

— Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
The documentary contains, through her participation and performance, the accommodation that facts alone are insufficient and maybe impossible.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of impossible

Adjective

What Zoe [Kazan] has done with Steinbeck’s East of Eden is just unbelievable.

— Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026
Marking 20 years as a band last month, and realizing we’ve been nominated 19 times for vocal group of the year, is unbelievable.

— Melinda Newman, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of unbelievable

Browse Nearby Words

unconvinced

unconvincing

uncooked

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Unconvincing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unconvincing. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of unconvincing

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

jilt

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes