unreadable
Americanadjective
-
not readable; undecipherable; scribbled.
His scrawl was almost unreadable.
-
not interesting to read; dull; tedious; an unreadable treatise.
-
extraordinarily difficult to read or comprehend; obscure; incomprehensible.
an unreadable dream; an unreadable expression.
adjective
-
illegible; undecipherable
-
difficult or tedious to read
Other Word Forms
- unreadability noun
- unreadableness noun
- unreadably adverb
Etymology
Origin of unreadable
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.
A strong undercurrent of that lively book is that it’s good to be unreadable and sneaky: “I play it very loose.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026
Critics argue that this policy clearly isn't working, if the terms and conditions are unreadable, and cookie choices are an irritation rather than a valued defence.
From BBC • Mar. 4, 2026
The BBC has seen a copy of the judgement which includes the report and a two-page prescription which shows the doctor's unreadable scrawl.
From BBC • Sep. 30, 2025
Her expression is unreadable, at once thoughtful, curious, interested and detached.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 1, 2025
I stare at her in shock, but her face is unreadable.
From "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
