Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

beggar belief

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.15 in modern English

Syllables: beg-gar -be-lief
IPA

21

Scrabble Score

12

Letters

4

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To appear implausible or unbelievable.

British usage; Intransitive verb

Example Sentences

"It beggars belief to suppose that corporate policies can always pursue the best interests of a company."
"In Shakespeare's day boys or men took the part of women, and how characters like Lady Macbeth and Desdemona were adequately rendered by youths beggars belief."
""It beggars belief that delegates are given smartcards for free travel around the city, yet ordinary Glaswegians will still be forced to use a disjointed ticketing system.""
"[…"

Usage

British usage
Intransitive verb

Inflected Forms

beggars belief (present, singular) beggaring belief (participle, present) beggared belief (participle, past) beggared belief (past)

Phrases

belief-beggaring

Frequently Paired Words

belief-beggaring

Synonyms

beggar description

Questions

What does beggar belief mean?: To appear implausible or unbelievable.

How to pronounce beggar belief

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