unintelligible

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

/ ˌʌn ɪnˈtɛl ɪ dʒə bəl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR unintelligible ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

not intelligible; not capable of being understood.

Nearby words

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

Origin of unintelligible

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

SYNONYMS FOR unintelligible

incomprehensible, baffling, undecipherable.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR unintelligible ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

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

Can be confused

unintelligent unintelligible

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

Examples from the Web for unintelligible

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

For all of the breathless, unintelligible talk about the Higgs, think of it this way.
The Higgs Boson: Why You Should Care|Daniel Stone|July 6, 2012|DAILY BEAST
After this follows an unintelligible story of how she had gone on pilgrimage to Rome, and fought in the Italian wars.
The Valet's Tragedy and Other Stories|Andrew Lang
I hope that you will read my Book, straight through; otherwise from the great condensation it will be unintelligible.
The Unpopular Review, Number 19|Various
Treliss, Scaw House, his father, had slipped back into an unintelligible distance.
Fortitude|Hugh Walpole
The answer was unintelligible to his son, but Agatha gathered from it that the chamber-door was to be shut and bolted.
Agatha's Husband|Dinah Maria Craik (AKA: Dinah Maria Mulock)
I am not sorry, nor ever have been, that I was brought up to "family prayers," unintelligible though they then were to me.
Folly as It Flies|Fanny Fern

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