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Showing results for "unsaid"
  • past tense form of unsay.
  • past participle of unsay.
Synonyms

unsaid

1 American  
[uhn-sed] / ʌnˈsɛd /

verb

  1. simple past tense and past participle of unsay.


unsaid 2 American  
[uhn-sed] / ʌnˈsɛd /

adjective

  1. not said; thought but not mentioned or discussed; unstated.

    It was best left unsaid.


unsaid British  
/ ʌnˈsɛd /

adjective

  1. not said or expressed; unspoken

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of unsaid

before 1000; Middle English unsa ( i ) d, Old English unsǣd; see un- 1, said 1


Explanation

If something hasn't been spoken out loud, it's unsaid. Even when something is unsaid, its meaning is sometimes understood anyway. It's more common to use the adjective unspoken when you're talking about something that's implied indirectly but not articulated in words, but you can use unsaid this way too. In print, you're most likely to see it in its role as the past tense of unsay: "Once you've said something mean, it can't be unsaid."

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Also left unsaid is how quickly agentic AI adoption would spread.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 28, 2026

But the present and possibly future Green Lanterns were summoned there for a reason best left unsaid here, and in keeping with HBO’s extensive spoiler embargo.

From Salon ● Aug. 14, 2026

Left unsaid was whether Tehran is prepared to permanently drop its demand that it should be able to collect tolls from transiting commercial vessels and if those negotiations would lead to a fully reopened waterway.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026

Thankfully, Babitz did exactly that — no rambling thoughts, petty accusations or amusing missives left unsaid.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 12, 2026

Something that has already gone unsaid for too long.

From "The Sea in Winter" by Christine Day

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