i-adjective
hard to approve; difficult to accept; unconvincing
Expresses that something is difficult to acknowledge, approve, or accept as true or valid. Often used when evidence or reasoning is insufficient.
彼の説明はどうも認めがたい。
His explanation is rather hard to accept.
その主張を事実と認めがたい。
It is difficult to accept that claim as fact.
認める is the base verb meaning 'to recognize, approve, accept'. 認めがたい is its negative potential form expressing difficulty.
信じがたい means 'hard to believe', focusing on credibility, while 認めがたい focuses on approval or acceptance.
Compound of 認め (continuative form of 認める 'to recognize, approve') + がたい (suffix meaning 'difficult to do').