different between exceptional vs unbelievable

English

Etymology

exception +? -al

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?k?s?p??n?l/
• Hyphenation: ex?cep?tion?al

Adjective

exceptional (comparative more exceptional, superlative most exceptional)

1. Forming an exception; not ordinary; uncommon; rare.

   What an exceptional flower!

2. Better than the average; superior due to exception or rarity.

   The quality of the beer was exceptional.

3. (geometry) Corresponding to something of lower dimension under a birational correspondence.

   an exceptional curve; an exceptional divisor

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:excellent
• egregious (most often used negatively, however)

Antonyms

• (forming an exception): ordinary, categorical, common, general, usual
• (superior due to exception or rarity): ordinary, mediocre, commonplace

Derived terms

• exceptional space
• exceptionally
• exceptionalism

Translations

Noun

exceptional (plural exceptionals)

1. An exception, or something having an exceptional value
   • 1909, Pediatrics (volume 21, page 276)

     Above and beyond all these exceptionals, by reason of divergencies from the norms of mental and of physical status, there are quite a number of moral defectives.

English

Etymology

From un- +? believable.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??nb??li?v?bl?/

Adjective

unbelievable (comparative more unbelievable, superlative most unbelievable)

1. Not to be believed.
2. Incredible; so surprising it is almost unable to believe.

   The most unbelievable thing happened to me today!

   This restaurant makes unbelievable pizza!

3. Implausible or improbable.

   His excuse seems rather unbelievable.

   Synonyms: improbable, infeasible, unlikely

   Antonyms: feasible, likely, plausible, probable

Derived terms

• unbelievably

Translations