far-fetched

adjective

ˈfär-ˈfecht 

1

: brought from a remote time or place

2

: not easily or naturally deduced or introduced : improbable

a far-fetched story

farfetchedness

ˈfär-ˈfech(t)-nəs

-ˈfe-chəd-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• doubtful
• dubious
• flimsy
• improbable
• questionable
• unapt
• unlikely

Examples of far-fetched in a Sentence

an exciting thriller, but one with a far-fetched plot that no sensible person could believe

Recent Examples on the Web

Particularly in the United States, where so much of a child’s welfare is determined by their parents, the notion that those parents’ time and income would go further on two kids than five doesn’t seem far-fetched. —Stephanie H. Murray, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2024

Even so, adopting this horizontal arrangement seems far-fetched to me. —David Phelan, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024

The remaining 80 minutes feature surprises best discovered in the moment, during which the tension remains high while the action becomes progressively far-fetched. —Alissa Simon, Variety, 14 Dec. 2024

Not conventionally handsome, he is compared at one point in the film to Al Pacino, and the comparison is not all that far-fetched. —Arthur Knight, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

far-fetched

adjective

ˈfär-ˈfecht

: not easily or naturally thought of : improbable

gave some far-fetched excuse