unknowable
adjective
un·know·able
ˌən-ˈnō-ə-bəl 
: not knowable
especially
: lying beyond the limits of human experience or understanding
Examples of unknowable in a Sentence
a God whose nature is unknown and unknowable
Recent Examples on the Web
North Korea, though the subject of endless fascination among both beltway pundits and TMZ aficionados, seemed eerily unknowable.
—
Lauretta Charlton, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2024
The world’s future population size is ultimately unknowable.
—Simon Montlake, The Christian Science Monitor, 29 Mar. 2024
Whether anyone other than Putin can capably manage these instruments is unknowable, but with or without Putin, these instruments align with many vested interests and many past precedents.
—Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 13 Mar. 2024
Since 1945, the answer to that question has been unknowable.
—Peter D. Feaver, Foreign Affairs, 19 Feb. 2024
Its aim is to help a community struggling to heal and grappling with the unknowable.
—Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2023
Maybe this is just Ice Spice being cool and unknowable again.
—Chris Richards, Washington Post, 2 Feb. 2024
My dad’s murder was as fundamental and as unknowable as my own birth.
—Eren Orbey, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2023
But the beans and eggs, made with unknowable (and probably unthinkable) quantities of lard, have been a constant for more than three quarters of a century.
—Jorge Valencia Mariano Fernandez, New York Times, 14 Nov. 2023
Lauretta Charlton, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2024
The world’s future population size is ultimately unknowable.
—Simon Montlake, The Christian Science Monitor, 29 Mar. 2024
Whether anyone other than Putin can capably manage these instruments is unknowable, but with or without Putin, these instruments align with many vested interests and many past precedents.
—Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 13 Mar. 2024
Since 1945, the answer to that question has been unknowable.
—Peter D. Feaver, Foreign Affairs, 19 Feb. 2024
Its aim is to help a community struggling to heal and grappling with the unknowable.
—Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2023
Maybe this is just Ice Spice being cool and unknowable again.
—Chris Richards, Washington Post, 2 Feb. 2024
My dad’s murder was as fundamental and as unknowable as my own birth.
—Eren Orbey, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2023
But the beans and eggs, made with unknowable (and probably unthinkable) quantities of lard, have been a constant for more than three quarters of a century.
—Jorge Valencia Mariano Fernandez, New York Times, 14 Nov. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unknowable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near unknowable
Cite this Entry
“Unknowable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unknowable. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unknowable
adjective
un·know·able
ˌən-ˈnō-ə-bəl
ˈən-
: not knowable
some facts in the case may remain unknowable
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