unspeakable

adjective

un·​speak·​able ˌən-ˈspē-kə-bəl How to pronounce unspeakable (audio)
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 wordsL. P. Smith
unspeakable collections of consonantsRosemary Jellis
unspeakably adverb

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Or marry Selden, if you’re actually attracted to him, and endure the not-very-unspeakable fate of being merely upper middle class rather than super-rich. Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025 All these artists are doing it for the right reasons — to raise money after this unspeakable tragedy. Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 30 Aug. 2025 The unspeakable drama of these killings is an understandable draw to filmmakers interested in humanity’s worst impulses. Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 29 Aug. 2025 But for braver audiences, notably those more used to Europe’s cinema of provocation, Blue Film speaks out loud about the unspeakable, featuring scenes that would leave even Gaspar Noé gasping. Damon Wise, Deadline, 16 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unspeakable

Word History

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of unspeakable was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unspeakable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unspeakable. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

unspeakable

adjective
un·​speak·​able ˌən-ˈspē-kə-bəl How to pronounce unspeakable (audio)
ˈən-
1
: impossible to express in words
unspeakable beauty of the sunset
2
: extremely bad
unspeakable conduct
unspeakably adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on unspeakable

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!