inexplicable

adjective

in·​ex·​pli·​ca·​ble ˌi-nik-ˈspli-kə-bəl  (ˌ)i-ˈnek-(ˌ)spli- 

: incapable of being explained, interpreted, or accounted for

an inexplicable disappearance

inexplicability

ˌi-nik-ˌspli-kə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

(ˌ)i-ˌnek-(ˌ)spli-

noun

inexplicableness

ˌi-nik-ˈspli-kə-bəl-nəs 

(ˌ)i-ˈnek-(ˌ)spli-

noun

inexplicably

ˌi-nik-ˈspli-kə-blē 

(ˌ)i-ˈnek-(ˌ)spli-

adverb

Synonyms of inexplicable

• unexplainable

Examples of inexplicable in a Sentence

He had a series of seemingly inexplicable accidents.

an inexplicable desire for ice cream at two in the morning

Recent Examples on the Web

For a team that also went 20 games without an interception before finally getting one against the Bears in Week 4, the list of inexplicable failures keeps growing. — Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 1 Nov. 2026

Returning to the school Now the community faces the daunting task of returning to normal life in a setting marred by inexplicable violence. — Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 1 Nov. 2026

Aaron Philo threw an inexplicable underhanded interception while scrambling under pressure, a decision that belonged in a blooper reel. — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Oct. 2026

But the reason these frightening scenes work so well is that Hitchcock knows there must be some emotional investment from the audience, especially when the actual events are so random and inexplicable. — Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin inexplicabilis, from in- + explicabilis explicable

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for inexplicable

• admissible
• immiscible
• permissible
• transmissible
• impermissible
• inadmissible
• indivisible
• miscible

Kids Definition

inexplicable

adjective

in·​ex·​pli·​ca·​ble ˌin-ik-ˈsplik-ə-bəl  (ˈ)in-ˈek-(ˌ)splik- 

: impossible to explain

an inexplicable mystery

inexplicability

ˌin-ik-ˌsplik-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

(ˌ)in-ˌek-(ˌ)splik-

noun

inexplicably

-blē 

adverb