unspeakable
Americanadjective
-
not speakable; that may not be spoken.
-
exceeding the power of speech; unutterable; inexpressible; indescribable.
- Synonyms:
- unimaginable, ineffable
-
inexpressibly bad or objectionable.
adjective
-
incapable of expression in words
unspeakable ecstasy
-
indescribably bad or evil
-
not to be uttered
unspeakable thoughts
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of unspeakable
1350–1400; Middle English unspekeabill. See un- 1, speak ( def. ), -able ( def. )
Explanation
Something that's unspeakable can't be accurately put into words, like the unspeakable sadness of losing your beloved cat. You can use this adjective for things that can't be spoken or articulated, including the unspeakable joy of reuniting with your lost cat or certain unspeakable swear words that aren't allowed at school. But it's most often used to capture a feeling of horror that remains inexpressible even when people try to talk about it. The unspeakable evil of genocide is one example; when we can't comprehend why it happens, it's impossible to describe in words.
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.
Supposedly written in three weeks, “The Unspeakable Skipton” doesn’t feel like a rush job.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 2, 2026
He mentions Dean Wormer in a 2010 Breitbart interview promoting his book "The Bible of Unspeakable Truths."
From Salon • Mar. 4, 2023
But he left behind a collection of influential papers, collected under the title Speakable and Unspeakable in Quantum Mechanics.
From Scientific American • Oct. 24, 2022
David Morris’ really fantastic memoir called The Evil Hours, Shaili Jain’s The Unspeakable Mind—she’s an MD—and a really early book by Judith Herman from the 1990s called Trauma and Recovery.
From Slate • Sep. 20, 2022
Unspeakable was the grief and consternation of Athens, when the intelligence reached her of this decisive victory.
From Ancient States and Empires by Lord, John
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
