indecipherable

adjective

in·​de·​ci·​pher·​able ˌin-di-ˈsī-f(ə-)rə-bəl How to pronounce indecipherable (audio)
: incapable of being deciphered
indecipherable writing
an indecipherable message
indecipherably adverb

Example Sentences

His handwriting is almost indecipherable. after so many years the paper label in the drawer of the antique desk is indecipherable
Recent Examples on the Web To those like me, who have never been involved in maritime culture, the language of the Shipping Forecast can be indecipherable. Grace Linden, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2023 Even small circuits built, or evolved, in this way are nearly indecipherable. Mark Changizi, Discover Magazine, 16 Nov. 2011 This is the reboot at its most indecipherable, a miasma of reflexive nostalgia and boardroom guesswork. Elizabeth Nelson, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2023 Gen Z is not just indecipherable to foreign executives. Grady Mcgregor, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2022 The words are central yet nearly indecipherable, a visual metaphor for mystery and miscommunication. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 23 Dec. 2022 Ilchman points to the Church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli, where the coffered wood ceiling, when freed of centuries of dust and grime, revealed extraordinary detail in the depictions of saints and prophets, previously indecipherable. Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Nov. 2022 The hallmarks of Sunday’s halftime performances were indecipherable lyrics and nonexistent melodies. Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2022 At her memorial service, someone described Joan Didion as a rune: mysterious, remote, and indecipherable. Roxana Robinson, The New Yorker, 16 Nov. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'indecipherable.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1802, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of indecipherable was in 1802

Dictionary Entries Near indecipherable

Cite this Entry

“Indecipherable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indecipherable. Accessed 24 Mar. 2023.

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