unspeakable

adjective

un·​speak·​able ˌən-ˈspē-kə-bəl 

1

a

: incapable of being expressed in words : unutterable

b

: inexpressibly bad : horrendous

unspeakable living conditions

unspeakable evil

2

: that may not or cannot be spoken

the bawdy thoughts that come into one's head—the unspeakable words

—L. P. Smith

unspeakable collections of consonants

—Rosemary Jellis

unspeakably

ˌən-ˈspē-kə-blē 

adverb

Synonyms

• incommunicable
• indefinable
• indescribable
• ineffable
• inenarrable
• inexpressible
• nameless
• uncommunicable
• unutterable

Examples of unspeakable in a Sentence

the unspeakable horror of war

continually encountered unspeakable beauty in their travels through the Alps

Recent Examples on the Web

Unencumbered by the stark binary of good and evil, Bring Her Back argues that love and longing can drive us to unspeakable acts. —Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 16 May 2025

Facing unspeakable evil with the greatest – and unsuspected – resolve a human being can ever hope for, Jean Moulin’s story reverberates until today. —Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 10 May 2025

The most likely survivors were those with a burning determination to return to their families, to hold on to their beliefs, or to bear witness to unspeakable crimes. —Antony Beevor, Foreign Affairs, 7 May 2025

With a mystery that keeps the audience on their toes with an unspeakable twist. —Zac Ntim, Deadline, 2 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

unspeakable

adjective

un·​speak·​able ˌən-ˈspē-kə-bəl 

ˈən-

1

: impossible to express in words

unspeakable beauty of the sunset

2

: extremely bad

unspeakable conduct

unspeakably

-blē 

adverb