indecipherable

[ in-di-sahy-fer-uh-buh l ]

/ ˌɪn dɪˈsaɪ fər ə bəl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR indecipherable ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

not decipherable; illegible.

not understandable; incomprehensible.

Nearby words

indecent, indecent assault, indecent exposure, indeciduate, indeciduous, indecipherable, indecision, indecisive, indecl., indeclinable, indecomposable

Origin of indecipherable

First recorded in 1795–1805; in-³ + decipherable

Related forms

in·de·ci·pher·a·bil·i·ty, in·de·ci·pher·a·ble·ness, nounin·de·ci·pher·a·bly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for indecipherable

Yet how, in this age of protean trends and indecipherable jargon, are we to draw the line?
When Not to Take a Selfie|James Poulos|December 11, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Nuclear jargon has evolved into a code that is indecipherable to the layman.
Be Afraid, Very Afraid|Nathaniel Rich|March 15, 2011|DAILY BEAST
His edits often were indecipherable, mysterious marks on the side of the page written with a Sharpie.
The Rove You Don't Know|Matt Latimer|March 9, 2010|DAILY BEAST
It satisfied in some measure the vague, indecipherable yearning of my soul; and it was the same with him.
The White Peacock|D. H. (David Herbert) Lawrence

Their wandering glances were as indecipherable as the mystery of their abortive and useless existences.
An Iceland Fisherman|Pierre Loti
The staff is fully occupied upon the work in hand, and cannot wade through pages of often indecipherable hand-writing.
Practical Cinematography and Its Applications|Frederick Arthur Ambrose Talbot
He had saluted her with elaborate civility, his eyes distended with indecipherable meanings.
Ann Veronica|H. G. Wells
And then, I am sorry to say, the cryptogram is indecipherable.
Eight Hundred Leagues on the Amazon|Jules Verne

British Dictionary definitions for indecipherable

indecipherable

/ (ˌɪndɪˈsaɪfərəbəl, -frəbəl) /

adjective

not decipherable; illegible

Derived Forms

indecipherability or indecipherableness, nounindecipherably, adverb

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