unspeakable

un·speak·able

adj \-ˈspē-kə-bəl\

Definition of UNSPEAKABLE

1

a : incapable of being expressed in words : unutterable b : inexpressibly bad : horrendous <unspeakable living conditions> <unspeakable evil>

2

: that may not or cannot be spoken <the bawdy thoughts that come into one's head — the unspeakable words — L. P. Smith> <unspeakable collections of consonants — Rosemary Jellis>

— un·speak·ably \-blē\ adverb

Examples of UNSPEAKABLE

1. the unspeakable horror of war
2. <continually encountered unspeakable beauty in their travels through the Alps>

First Known Use of UNSPEAKABLE

14th century

Related to UNSPEAKABLE

Synonyms: incommunicable, indefinable, ineffable, inenarrable, inexpressible, nameless, uncommunicable, indescribable, unutterable

Antonyms: communicable, definable, expressible, speakable

Related Words: unsayable; inconceivable, incredible, unbelievable, unimaginable, unthinkable; inexplicable, unexplainable; characterless, featureless, nondescript

Near Antonyms: conceivable, imaginable, thinkable

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