incomprehensible

adjective

(ˌ)in-ˌkäm-pri-ˈhen(t)-sə-bəl How to pronounce incomprehensible (audio)
Definition of incomprehensiblenext
as in unintelligible
impossible to understand rocket science is incomprehensible to most people

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of incomprehensible Being joyful there — in the Dominican Republic, where small shacks and houses pieced together by junkyard scraps sometimes hold families with over a dozen members — seems incomprehensible. — Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 25 June 2026 That principle has crumbled so far in the face of Wembanyama’s combination of incomprehensible on-court abilities, youthful enthusiasm and cosmopolitan-unto-eccentric savoir faire. — Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 9 June 2026 Europeans, Bennett notes, find this genuinely incomprehensible. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 11 May 2026 Ashly's death is an incomprehensible tragedy. — Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for incomprehensible
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incomprehensible
  1. unintelligible
  2. mysterious
  3. unfathomable
  4. confusing
  5. uncanny
  6. esoteric
  7. impenetrable
  8. obscure
Adjective
  • The world premiere on Sunday – in the presence of Illumination boss Chris Meledandri and director Pierre Coffin, who is also the origin of the minions’ unintelligible chatter – kicks off one of the biggest Annecy Film Festival’s yet.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 19 June 2026
  • The adversaries made for a striking scene, exchanging insults in mutually unintelligible languages in the dead of night.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 June 2026
Definition of unintelligible
Adjective
  • That is, until a mysterious entity shows up who can jump from person to person, as Peter himself is experiencing changes to his health and powers.
    — Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 23 July 2026
  • His films explore displacement, time and the mysterious undercurrents of reality.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 23 July 2026
Definition of mysterious
Adjective
  • Google has reported its financial results for the second quarter of 2026 (PDF), and as usual, the search giant raked in an unfathomable amount of money.
    — Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 23 July 2026
  • When Mina’s closest friend Lucy succumbs to his thrall, the enigmatic Professor Van Helsing is summoned to wage war on this unfathomable threat.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 22 July 2026
Definition of unfathomable
Adjective
  • In fact, the over 50 different existing date variations can be quite confusing and have led to a lot of perfectly good food ending up in the trash.
    — LeeAnn Weintraub, Oc Register, 25 July 2026
  • Although officials have said that Madison Square Garden will ultimately stay, the project's new renderings showcase new shops, cleaner and safer train platforms and less confusing layouts.
    — Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 24 July 2026
Definition of confusing
Adjective
  • Played with tricksy force and a glint of anger in her eyes by Samantha Morton, Circe is at the center of the greatest scene in The Odyssey, one that foregrounds the grandeur and uncanny qualities of myth.
    — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 27 July 2026
  • Critics have praised this Dalloway riff for its entrancing, uncanny visuals.
    — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 27 July 2026
Definition of uncanny
Adjective
  • With all that group experience and wealth of individual styles, Play Time try something entirely different for their debut album on the admirably esoteric Balmat label.
    — Reed Jackson, SPIN, 3 July 2026
  • This offers the do-it-yourself warrior a simple, direct route from antiquated lead-acid to state-of-the-art lithium without having to search for esoteric parts online.
    — Malana VanTyler, USA Today, 24 June 2026
Definition of esoteric
Adjective
  • The Trojans kill the messenger, then haul the horse past their walled city’s impenetrable gates.
    — Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 15 July 2026
  • The Athletic’s Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero breaks down Spain’s impenetrable defense, while Cerys Jones analyzes whether Kylian Mbappe can guide France to a third consecutive World Cup final.
    — The Athletic, New York Times, 15 July 2026
Definition of impenetrable
Adjective
  • Perhaps that’s what led to one Manchester United fan to start what must be one of the most obscure player songs in the club’s terrace songbook.
    — Andy Mitten, New York Times, 27 July 2026
  • The article warns that such high valuations, lacking public financial transparency, obscure true value.
    — Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
Definition of obscure

Browse Nearby Words

incomprehensibility
incomprehensible
incomprehensibleness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Incomprehensible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incomprehensible. Accessed 30 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on incomprehensible

Nglish: Translation of incomprehensible for Spanish Speakers

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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of sultry

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
chain-question-mark
Missing Link Quiz July 2026 Five seconds to figure out the word that fits bot...
See All