unspeakable

adjective

un·​speak·​able ˌən-ˈspē-kə-bəl 

1

a

: incapable of being expressed in words : unutterable

… each heaved a sigh of unspeakable relief.

—Frank Norris

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 of unspeakable

• incredible
• indescribable
• unutterable
• ineffable
• inexpressible
• incommunicable
• indefinable

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

Traces of fight ing, oppression, destruction and of the unspeakable horrors of genocide overlap and mingle. — Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026

As is true of so many of these events, the unspeakable horror of 9/11 played out live on television news. — Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026

Attendees will enter the iconic Lament Configuration puzzle box, summoning the Cenobites and opening a gateway to a dimension full of unspeakable horrors. — Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 21 July 2026

The tragic murder of Rob Reiner and his wife Michele, allegedly at the hands of their son Nick Reiner, left Hollywood in shock and the Reiner family facing unspeakable grief. — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 20 July 2026

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