as in unreadable
incapable of being read or deciphered
illegible signatures on the petition will be disregarded
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of illegible
In November, the service in Rapid City, South Dakota, posted a map that included illegible location names, leading to widespread mockery.
—
Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 7 Jan. 2026
The anxiety is rooted in the mundane rather than the arch and limns how such mental strife makes others illegible to you.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
Simon managed to keep scribbling on his yellow legal pad but his handwriting, illegible on a good day, quickly deteriorated into nothing more than chicken scratch.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
Sponsor is not responsible for any lost, late, misdirected, illegible, incomplete, mutilated, postage due or mechanically reproduced Entries or Entries that have been tampered with or not obtained through legitimate channels, all of which will be disqualified.
—Vogue, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illegible
Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 7 Jan. 2026
The anxiety is rooted in the mundane rather than the arch and limns how such mental strife makes others illegible to you.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
Simon managed to keep scribbling on his yellow legal pad but his handwriting, illegible on a good day, quickly deteriorated into nothing more than chicken scratch.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
Sponsor is not responsible for any lost, late, misdirected, illegible, incomplete, mutilated, postage due or mechanically reproduced Entries or Entries that have been tampered with or not obtained through legitimate channels, all of which will be disqualified.
—Vogue, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illegible
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illegible
Adjective
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Yasmin Kara-Hanani and Henry Muck are out of their depth in the flashy offices of Tender, a start-up led by the smooth-talking, unreadable Whitney Halberstram (Max Minghella).—
Adriane Quinlan,
Curbed,
23 Feb. 2026
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But while Melling is always endearingly open and responsive, Skarsgård stays unreadable.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The structures of the UK distribution landscape are so limited and obscure.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
11 Mar. 2026
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The two sides are working out terms related to artificial intelligence, streaming residuals, and health and pension funding — along with more obscure subjects like exclusivity windows for TV series regulars.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Apple’s new guidelines might be a sign that the music industry understands why people want Sienna’s indecipherable shirts to come with a Transparency Tag.—
Jennifer Zhan,
Vulture,
5 Mar. 2026
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The highway sign was nearly indecipherable beneath layers of stickers and graffiti.—
Josh Jackson,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Around 5000 light-years away, the faint nebula PMR 1 hides a star whose fate is not yet known.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Then his mouth stretches into a faint smile.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The spirit and the symbolism were, at times, undecipherable.—
The Know,
Denver Post,
8 Feb. 2026
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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
Adjective
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The increase is driven by panic over the unclear plan for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
9 Mar. 2026
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Reports are unclear about who else was in the house at the time this took place.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Illegible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illegible. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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