WordGarden.ioinconsiderable
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /ɪnkənsˈɪdərəbəl/
US
Meanings
Adjective
small in amount, size, or degree
not important or worth much attention
Beyond the definition
Something inconsiderable is so small in size, amount, or importance that it hardly matters. Think of a tiny speck of dust on a vast beach: it's there, but it barely counts. It isn't only about physical size; an inconsiderable sum of money might be just a few pennies to someone wealthy, while an inconsiderable effort might take almost no work at all.
Imagine a detective investigating a crime. They might dismiss certain clues as inconsiderable if they don't seem relevant to the case. Or perhaps you're building a magnificent castle out of sand – a small wave washing over it would cause only an inconsiderable amount of damage, easily fixed with another scoop of sand. The word hints at something being so minor that it barely registers.
The word inconsiderable describes something so small or unimportant that it's hardly worth noticing or considering. It comes from the root "consider," meaning to think about carefully, and the prefix "in-," which means "not." So, literally, inconsiderable means "not worthy of consideration."
It's often used to downplay something – not necessarily in a deceptive way, but simply to emphasize its lack of significance. For example: "The damage from the minor fender bender was inconsiderable," meaning it wasn't serious. Or, "He made an inconsiderable contribution to the project," suggesting his help was minimal.
Inconsiderable isn't always about physical size. It can also refer to abstract things like effort, influence, or risk. "The risk of failure was inconsiderable" means there was very little chance that something would go wrong.
However, what's inconsiderable is often relative. A small amount of money might be inconsiderable to a billionaire but significant to someone struggling financially. Similarly, an inconsiderable delay for one person could be frustrating for another. The context always matters!
So, when something is inconsiderable, it's essentially lost in the grand scheme of things – too small, too unimportant, or too negligible to warrant much attention. It's a word that highlights scale and perspective, reminding us that not everything deserves equal weight.
Examples
- 1
Damage estimate
The damage looked inconsiderable at first, so we decided not to call a repairman.
- 2
Election turnout
An inconsiderable number of voters turned up for the local election.
- 3
Formal understatement
She made a not inconsiderable sum from selling the company.
- Usagenot inconsiderable
fairly large; often used in a formal style
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Do not confuse
Used with (collocations)
- inconsiderable amount
- inconsiderable sum
- not inconsiderable
Word family
- inconsiderably
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Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- inconsiderableadjective