unrecognizable

adjective un·rec·og·niz·able \ ˌən-ˈre-kəg-ˌnī-zə-bəl , -kig- \

|Updated on: 9 Jul 2018

Definition of unrecognizable

: incapable of being identified or recognized : not recognizable

The beaches were unrecognizable after the hurricane.

He was unrecognizable without his mustache.

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unrecognizableness

noun

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unrecognizably

play \ˌən-ˈre-kəg-ˌnī-zə-blē, -kig-\ adverb

- an unrecognizably altered landscape

See unrecognizable defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of unrecognizable from the Web

By the time the calendar flips to August, the Spurs could be unrecognizable.

— jeff mcdonald, San Antonio Express-News, "As free agency opens, Spurs’ ‘Kawisis’ looms large — but there are other issues too," 29 June 2018
Last night, Dobrev showed up to the CFDA Awards looking almost unrecognizable, thanks to hairstylist Chris McMillan.

— ruby buddemeyer, Marie Claire, "Nina Dobrev Got a Major Haircut and Doesn't Look Like Nina Dobrev Anymore," 5 June 2018
There's a good grasp of period, an impressive impersonation of the author-hero by an almost unrecognizable Johnny Depp, and a determination to honor the original in all its gross-out particulars.

— patrick friel, Chicago Reader, "Books / Film / Foreign / History / On Video / Poetry Five literary biopics whose pictures are worth a thousand words," 30 May 2018
When your life becomes unrecognizable, a funny distance seeps in.

— amanda petrusich, The New Yorker, "The Strange Poignancy of Courtney Barnett’s Minutiae," 14 May 2018
Once home to about 400,000 people, many in high-rise apartments, Raqqa has become nearly unrecognizable to those who try to return and navigate its streets.

— Washington Post, "How American neglect imperils the victory over ISIS," 19 Apr. 2018
Overly familiar music becomes unrecognizable and loses all sentiment.

— mark swed, latimes.com, "At Disney Hall, the dresses made of speakers were just the beginning," 18 Apr. 2018
Anti-depressants go untaken, frantic calls are left unanswered and two likable characters become unrecognizable.

— monica castillo, New York Times, "Review: ‘Dim the Fluorescents’ Unites Two Roommates in Art and Commerce," 11 Jan. 2018
By the time everyone is done, the 700 block of Fulton Street will be unrecognizable.

— inga saffron, Philly.com, "When trading up isn't an option, Philadelphia rowhouse owners build up | Inga Saffron," 21 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'unrecognizable.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.