nameless

adjective

name·​less ˈnām-ləs 

1

: obscure, undistinguished

2

: not known by name : anonymous

3

: having no legal right to a name (as due to being born to parents not married to each other)

4

: not having been given a name : unnamed

5

: not marked with a name

a nameless grave

6

a

: incapable of precise description : indefinable

b

: too repulsive or distressing to describe

namelessly adverb

namelessness noun

Synonyms

• unnamed
• unidentified
• anonymous

Examples of nameless in a Sentence

She left the hotel with a nameless man in a black jacket.

The source for my story prefers to remain nameless.

A top government official, who shall remain nameless, has expressed concern about the decision.

The men were buried there in nameless graves.

Recent Examples on the Web

And no one wants to be reduced to a nameless fulfillment partner in someone else’s ecosystem. —Jason Goldberg, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2025

The officer involved in Key’s complaint wasn’t the only nameless patroller. —Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 4 Aug. 2025

Although Zacharias and the nameless, vanished wife live in different worlds, an invisible thread links them. —Celia Bell july 22, Literary Hub, 22 July 2025

Not only did the team put an offensive moniker that shall remain nameless in this space in its past, but Snyder's sad and disturbing reign as owner finally came to a merciful end. —Jim Reineking, USA Today, 21 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for nameless

• aimless
• blameless
• shameless

Kids Definition

nameless

adjective

name·​less ˈnām-ləs 

1

: having no name

2

: not marked with a name

a nameless grave

3

: unknown entry 1, anonymous

a nameless hero

4

a

: impossible to describe

nameless fears

b

: too disgusting or disturbing to be described

nameless acts of cruelty