unforgivable

adjective

un·​for·​giv·​able ˌən-fər-ˈgi-və-bəl 

-fȯr-

: too bad to be forgiven : not forgivable

an unforgivable crime/sin/error

Such boldness on the part of a man of my own class would have been almost unforgivable.

—Jack London

unforgivably

ˌən-fər-ˈgi-və-blē 

-fȯr-

adverb

Synonyms

• indefensible
• inexcusable
• inexpiable
• insupportable
• unjustifiable
• unpardonable
• unwarrantable

Examples of unforgivable in a Sentence

an unforgivable crime that society must seek just punishment for

they considered their friend's selfish behavior unforgivable

Recent Examples on the Web

Crystal Skull is easily Spielberg’s laziest, sloppiest work — even the action sequences seem phoned-in — and it’s filled with unforgivable howlers: Shia LaBeouf’s limp attempt at being a bad boy, Cate Blanchett’s hammy villain, the goddamn fridge scene. —Tim Grierson, Vulture, 20 June 2025

The sisters also mention their own summer 16, when something unforgivable happened. —Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 19 June 2025

Here is an inconvenient truth: our forebears used the unrestrained free market to effect a staggering destruction of continental wildlife, an unforgivable crime against evolution in America. —Dan Flores, Time, 29 May 2025

Hristo Stoichkov played with an intimidating edge that could both win games and cross an unforgivable line. —Simon Hughes, New York Times, 7 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unforgivable

• derivable
• livable