unreadable

adjective

un·​read·​able ˌən-ˈrē-də-bəl 

: not readable: such as

a

: not decipherable : illegible

unreadable handwriting

b

: impossible to read and understand : incomprehensible

… a flawed, unreadable, misleading bill that garnered support based on propaganda and clever—but false—talking points.

—Marilyn M. Singleton

c

: impossible to interpret

The expression on her face was unreadable.

d

: not enjoyable or interesting enough to engage the reader

an unreadable novel

Synonyms

• illegible
• indecipherable
• undecipherable

Examples of unreadable in a Sentence

the old book contains an inscription, but the handwriting is cramped and unreadable

Recent Examples on the Web

Eventually, the register ended up in the collections of the Cambridge University Library, and in 2019, researchers discovered an unreadable handwritten fragment hidden inside its binding, which triggered a yearslong restoration project. —Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2025

Fuzzy, unreadable text is now (largely) a thing of the past. —Barry Collins, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025

Your data is also encrypted, meaning it’s scrambled into an unreadable format to prevent unauthorized access. —Ryley Amond, CNBC, 27 Dec. 2024

There are other snafus: The calligraphy on the place-setting cards is unreadable, and someone described as an energy medium has tried to muck around with the dining room’s musty feng shui. —Tom Gliatto, People.com, 20 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1655, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unreadable

• readable

Kids Definition

unreadable

adjective

un·​read·​able

ˌən-ˈrēd-ə-bəl,

ˈən-

1

: too dull or unattractive to read

a long, unreadable essay

2

: illegible

unreadable handwriting