as in unreadable
incapable of being read or deciphered illegible signatures on the petition will be disregarded

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of illegible The letter featured a number of typos, and the Federal Reserve’s seal was illegible and appeared to be generated by artificial intelligence. Brett Samuels, The Hill, 22 July 2025 His striking work, Protest, depicts the bloodshed of Sri Lanka’s long civil war, using books that are charred or rendered illegible, often decorated with symbolic or figurative objects, like toy-soldier figurines marching across a soiled page. Thessaly La Force, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2025 When the works’ motors are switched on, the sculptures spin rapidly and the texts dissolve in a whirl of motion, becoming nearly or entirely illegible. Marina Isgro, Artforum, 1 June 2025 When the world becomes illegible, the present becomes illegible. Sean Illing, Vox, 22 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for illegible
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illegible
Adjective
  • This ensures data confidentiality both in transit and at rest by utilizing cryptographic algorithms to convert data into unreadable formats.
    Jason Phillips, jsonline.com, 28 Oct. 2025
  • The serial number on the rifle was obliterated and unreadable.
    Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Add to that list Inhotim, a sprawling and relatively obscure contemporary art collection in the jungle of the state of Minas Gerais that surpasses any notion of what a museum can be.
    William O'Connor, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Mamdani began his campaign as a relatively obscure state lawmaker, little known even within New York City.
    Sydney Lake, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Many listeners felt the quality of Lennon’s home recordings left the singer muddy and indecipherable in the mix.
    Dave Paulson, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
  • The two new model names—gpt-oss-120b and gpt-oss-20b—may be indecipherable to non-engineers, but that’s because OpenAI is setting its sights on AI builders and developers seeking to rapidly build on real-world use cases on their own systems.
    Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • While the faint scent of woodsmoke might feel nostalgic at first, consistent indoor exposure is anything but harmless.
    Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2025
  • When the faint pass left his stick, Montreal Canadiens forward Alex Newhook was first to pounce.
    Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Several creators who previously worked day jobs tell Rolling Stone that there’s an ongoing stigma surrounding the idea of leaving a steady day job — a stigma that’s decided less by rules and more by undecipherable vibes.
    CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 26 July 2025
  • Claims complexity: The billing process between hospitals and insurers is opaque to patients, who often receive surprising and undecipherable bills months after receiving care.
    Dan Gingiss, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • How travel insurance policies will be impacted by the shutdown is unclear.
    Rob Wile, NBC news, 7 Nov. 2025
  • The origin of the videos are unclear.
    Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Illegible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illegible. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.

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