uninhabitable

adjective

un·​in·​hab·​it·​able ˌən-in-ˈha-bə-tə-bəl How to pronounce uninhabitable (audio)
: unfit for habitation : not inhabitable
an uninhabitable wilderness

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web At least nine civilian houses and 28 housing units have been demolished, and 532 additional housing units were damaged, 37 of which are uninhabitable, authorities said in a government briefing on Friday. Elliott Gotkine, CNN, 12 May 2023 Yet if the waters are not held at bay, there is little doubt that Venice will eventually be submerged and uninhabitable, its sublime palaces and churches eroded by the sea’s salt, its history essentially washed away. Emma Bubola Laetitia Vancon, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2023 Tenants of two other buildings have filed lawsuits alleging uninhabitable conditions. Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2023 Dozens of cities and towns in Ukraine’s industrial heartland in the east have been pulverized by shelling, with many entirely leveled into wasteland and some even rendered uninhabitable. Michael Birnbaum, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2023 In Rio Dell, at least 15 homes were severely damaged and deemed uninhabitable and 18 others were moderately damaged, officials said. Wyatte Grantham-philips, USA TODAY, 21 Dec. 2022 The electrical panels for each apartment were damaged in the fire, rendering the units temporarily uninhabitable, French said. Mike Mavredakis, Hartford Courant, 19 Dec. 2022 While Russia blamed Ukraine for the attack, Ukrainian officials said Moscow was deliberately trying to render Kherson uninhabitable so that its residents agree to evacuate. Yaroslav Trofimov, WSJ, 7 Nov. 2022 Faced with extensive structural and water damage, officials at the Department of Building Inspection declared the clubhouse uninhabitable. Rachel Swan, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Mar. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'uninhabitable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of uninhabitable was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near uninhabitable

Cite this Entry

“Uninhabitable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/uninhabitable. Accessed 28 May. 2023.

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