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Synonyms

indecipherable

American  
[in-di-sahy-fer-uh-buhl] / ˌɪn dɪˈsaɪ fər ə bəl /

adjective

  1. not decipherable; illegible.

  2. not understandable; incomprehensible.


indecipherable British  
/ -frəbəl, ˌɪndɪˈsaɪfərəbəl /

adjective

  1. not decipherable; illegible

"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

Other Word Forms

  • indecipherability noun
  • indecipherableness noun
  • indecipherably adverb

Etymology

Origin of indecipherable

First recorded in 1795–1805; in- 3 + decipherable ( def. )

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.

I miss having claim over a piece of that city that other people found indecipherable.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 12, 2026

But he is best known for his inimitable, Surrealist pictures featuring skeletal, architectonic figures—merging humans, animals, foliage, totems and signs—which, though indecipherable, are instantly recognizable.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 31, 2026

The defining complaint about the sacked Dutchman was that after two-and-a-bit seasons the football was still formless and the tactical direction indecipherable.

From BBC • Nov. 1, 2024

With Can, his enigmatic, sometimes indecipherable utterances wove through free-flowing grooves.

From New York Times • Feb. 20, 2024

I head to the kitchen smelling of polish, my head aching with the indecipherable echo of Blackcliff s drums, which have been pounding all day.

From "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir