unintelligible

[ uhn-in-tel-i-juh-buhl ]

/ ˌʌn ɪnˈtɛl ɪ dʒə bəl /

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See synonyms for unintelligible on Thesaurus.com

adjective

not intelligible; not capable of being understood.

OTHER WORDS FOR unintelligible

incomprehensible, baffling, undecipherable.

See synonyms for unintelligible on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of unintelligible

First recorded in 1610–20; un-¹ + intelligible

OTHER WORDS FROM unintelligible

un·in·tel·li·gi·bil·i·ty, un·in·tel·li·gi·ble·ness, nounun·in·tel·li·gi·bly, adverb

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH unintelligible

unintelligent, unintelligible

Words nearby unintelligible

uninstructed, uninsurable, uninsured, unintellectual, unintelligent, unintelligible, unintended, unintentional, unintentionally, uninterest, uninterested

How to use unintelligible in a sentence

In Fortenberry’s case, however, prosecutors argued that they could not redact sensitive information without rendering the evidence unintelligible.
Judge Says GOP Congressman Can’t Be Left Alone With Evidence|Roger Sollenberger|October 29, 2021|The Daily Beast
Outside is not responsible for lost, late, incomplete, invalid, unintelligible, or misdirected entries, all of which will be disqualified.
Survival Essay Contest Submission Terms|mmirhashem|September 22, 2021|Outside Online
Last school year, schools had to close entire classrooms when one student tested positive, but the latest guidance is a lot more complicated – and almost unintelligible now when it comes to individual circumstances.
Schools’ Quarantine Protocols Are a Lot More Confusing Than Last Year|Kayla Jimenez|August 16, 2021|Voice of San Diego
Amazon says that was a privacy choice as well as a technical consideration because the rotating blades make so much noise, it would render any audio unintelligible anyway.
Amazon’s home security drone may actually be less creepy than a regular camera|Stan Horaczek|September 26, 2020|Popular-Science

The Thompsons, while goofy and simple and often unintelligible, really and truly loved each other.
The Shocking Rise and Fall of ‘Honey Boo Boo’|Kevin Fallon|October 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But in this case, their anger could end up amounting to more than just an unintelligible rant on Twitter.
Democrats, You Better Get Angry or You’ll Lose Congress|Dean Obeidallah|April 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The microphones in the chamber were off so that what she was saying was unintelligible on the floor and to viewers on C-SPAN.
Stenographer Starts Shouting During Debt Limit Vote|Ben Jacobs|October 17, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The microphones in the chamber were off during the vote so that what she was saying was unintelligible on the floor.
Inside the GOP Surrender|Ben Jacobs|October 17, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The prevailing feeling is one of slight frustration, as everyone strains to make sense of the largely unintelligible sounds.
Attending Rabbi Ovadia Yosef’s Funeral as a Secular Jewish Woman|Michelle Bubis|October 9, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The "spirit writing" consists of unmeaning, unintelligible scribbling scrawls, and very rarely containing any letters or words.
Second Edition of A Discovery Concerning Ghosts|George Cruikshank
Her bewilderment was complete: the more she wished to appear to understand him the more unintelligible his remarks became.
Summer|Edith Wharton
She repeated this several times, and gradually dwindled off into unintelligible mutterings.
The Floating Light of the Goodwin Sands|R.M. Ballantyne
A drummer soon came with a message from the besiegers, but a message which was utterly unintelligible to the besieged.
The History of England from the Accession of James II.|Thomas Babington Macaulay
He clings tenaciously to his unintelligible language, and is quite certain that he is superior to the whole human race.
Spanish Life in Town and Country|L. Higgin and Eugne E. Street

British Dictionary definitions for unintelligible

unintelligible

/ (ˌʌnɪnˈtɛlɪdʒɪbəl) /

adjective

not able to be understood; incomprehensible

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

unintelligible

OTHER WORDS FOR unintelligible

Origin of unintelligible

OTHER WORDS FROM unintelligible

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH unintelligible

Words nearby unintelligible

Words related to unintelligible

How to use unintelligible in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for unintelligible