unaccountable

[ uhn-uh-koun-tuh-buhl ]

adjective

1. impossible to account for; unexplained; inexplicable:

   The boat has an unaccountable tendency to yaw.

   Synonyms: unintelligible, mysterious, inscrutable, incomprehensible

2. exempt from being called to account; not answerable:

   As a subordinate, he is unaccountable for errors in policy.

   Synonyms: irresponsible, unanswerable

unaccountable

/ ˌʌnəˈkaʊntəbəl /

adjective

1. allowing of no explanation; inexplicable
2. puzzling; extraordinary

   an unaccountable fear of hamburgers

3. not accountable or answerable to

Derived Forms

• ˌunacˈcountably, adverb
• ˌunacˈcountableness, noun

Other Words From

• unac·counta·ble·ness unac·counta·bili·ty noun
• unac·counta·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of unaccountable¹

First recorded in 1635–45; un- ¹ + accountable

Example Sentences

Conservatives, meanwhile, say they fear he will steer the bureau toward becoming an unaccountable regulatory body with an anti-business agenda.

From Washington Post

The harsh political reality is the Sheriff of Jefferson Parish is wholly unaccountable to the people.

From ProPublica

So the evidence doesn’t indicate that America should continue the punitive, unaccountable model of policing that’s dominated over the past few decades.

From Vox

Other experts in philanthropy have questioned the wisdom and utility of operating at the scale of the largest foundations but being as unreachable, and thus unaccountable, as a private individual.

From Time

“Maryland is ineffectively administering vaccines in an unaccountable manner,” Ferguson said during a virtual news conference.

From Washington Post

And the new channels tend to be underground, indirect, and unaccountable.

From The Daily Beast

And then cue the 501(c)(4) nonprofits, which are also unaccountable and almost totally opaque, as conduits for secret giving.

From The Daily Beast

With the full force of law at their back, they are very nearly unaccountable in office, free to pursue what they think is right.

From The Daily Beast

Eleven unaccountable federal judges cannot make these monumental decisions in secret ex parte proceedings.

From The Daily Beast

Netanyahu and Lieberman believe they are unaccountable because they have never been called to account.

From The Daily Beast

Yet, try as I would to strangle the idea, all through the evening the same horrible, unaccountable notion clung to me.

From Project Gutenberg

Perhaps the interval had been longer than he guessed, but, in any case, the change was swift and half unaccountable.

From Project Gutenberg

I am no longer a boy, and I do not take to people easily; but I felt an unaccountable interest in you.

From Project Gutenberg

What to me is unaccountable, is that there should always be as many fools as gamblers want, to make a living by them.

From Project Gutenberg

Jane had the sense of being led towards some unaccountable triumph and acclamation.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• arcane
• impenetrable
• inexplicable
• unfathomable
• unheard-of
• unintelligible