as in unreadable
incapable of being read or deciphered
illegible signatures on the petition will be disregarded
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of illegible
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
In 1494, for example, mathematician and ‘father of modern accounting’ Luca Pacioli wrote of Venetian merchants willfully rendering their ledgers illegible.
—Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025
Wilson showed her a picture of their first tag, an illegible scrawl.
—Madeleine Wulfahrt, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for illegible
Vogue, 13 Oct. 2025
In 1494, for example, mathematician and ‘father of modern accounting’ Luca Pacioli wrote of Venetian merchants willfully rendering their ledgers illegible.
—Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025
Wilson showed her a picture of their first tag, an illegible scrawl.
—Madeleine Wulfahrt, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for illegible
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illegible
Adjective
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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
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The serial number on the rifle was obliterated and unreadable.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Gardenia x daruma is an obscure dwarf hybrid that is hardy down to 20 degrees and, planted on its own, grows no more than three feet tall with small flowers and leaves.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
9 Jan. 2026
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Advertisement The Epstein case is yet another reminder of how power can both obscure harm and suppress the voices of survivors.—
Mónica Ramírez,
Time,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Two streetlamps engaged in a mute but luminous dialogue, an indecipherable Morse code, alluding to the silent exchanges and secret ciphers of strangers who meet there for their trysts.—
Javier Montes,
Artforum,
1 Jan. 2026
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If the manual is indecipherable or nonexistent, which is often the case, a clear YouTube video or online guide can help.—
Larry Magid,
Mercury News,
25 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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The program’s pulse felt faint, its identity slipping further with each loss.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
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The short uses stylized 3D and deadpan timing to explore routine, irritation and faint absurdity.—
Callum McLennan,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
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The circumstances of Villegas-Gonzalez's death remain unclear.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
9 Jan. 2026
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While past studies have shown that dairy products may have a protective effect against dementia, how specific dairy products affect cognitive health remains unclear.—
Julia Ries Wexler,
Health,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Illegible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illegible. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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