unintelligible

adjective

un·​in·​tel·​li·​gi·​ble ˌən-in-ˈte-lə-jə-bəl 

: unable to be understood or comprehended : not intelligible

a song with unintelligible lyrics

unintelligible jargon

… including parenthetical translations of the words and phrases he knew would be unintelligible to contemporary readers.

—John N. Green

unintelligibility

ˌən-in-ˌte-lə-jə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

or less commonly unintelligibleness

unintelligibly

ˌən-in-ˈte-lə-jə-blē 

adverb

muttering unintelligibly

Synonyms of unintelligible

• incomprehensible
• mysterious
• confusing
• uncanny
• cryptic
• esoteric
• impenetrable
• unfathomable
• obscure

Examples of unintelligible in a Sentence

uttered only a string of unintelligible murmurs

Recent Examples on the Web

The removal of Spears' Instagram account came after years of public concern and defense over her social media presence, in which the pop star has been seen posting dance videos (including with knives), sometimes with unintelligible and bizarre captions. —Edward Segarra, USA Today, 17 Nov. 2025

My children all suffering so bad [unintelligible] so good [unintelligible]. —Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 3 Nov. 2025

The vendor said some other things that were unintelligible because of the overlap between her live speech and the lagging translation. —Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 16 Oct. 2025

The defense attorney played for jurors a recording of Nicholson, while at the hospital, making what sounded like moaning noises followed by unintelligible and mumbled words. —Sean Emery, Oc Register, 6 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1664, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unintelligible

• ineligible
• intelligible
• eligible