ineffable

American  

[in-ef-uh-buhl] / ɪnˈɛf ə bəl /

adjective

1. incapable of being expressed or described in words; inexpressible.

   ineffable joy.

2. not to be spoken because of its sacredness; unutterable.

   the ineffable name of the deity.

   Synonyms:

   unspeakable

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ineffable British  

/ ɪnˈɛfəbəl /

adjective

1. too great or intense to be expressed in words; unutterable

2. too sacred to be uttered

3. indescribable; indefinable

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Other Word Forms

• ineffability noun
• ineffableness noun
• ineffably adverb

Etymology

Origin of ineffable

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English word from Latin word ineffābilis. See in- ³, effable

Example Sentences

It’s a performance that requires O’Connor to hint at an ineffable void.

From Los Angeles Times

Then, after a short silence, the music resumed, but now with the addition of Mr. Muhly on prepared piano, lending ineffable poignancy to strains of unsentimental emotionalism.

From The Wall Street Journal

With Frankenstein, he worries he’ll jinx the monster by talking too much about him, snuffing out the ineffable thing that he says fueled his performance.

From The Wall Street Journal

From the title “Is There Anybody Out There?” to the lyrics “living infinite lives / are they mine?” from “It All Comes Back,” Schneider asks ineffable questions in poignant songs often imbued with quirky, understated profundity.

From Los Angeles Times

“It’s not just fatigue — it’s an ineffable, system wide cry for help and I don’t know how long I can remain in this state,” Moriarty continues in her text to her mother.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ethereal
• heavenly
• indescribable
• transcendent
• unspeakable