as in understandable
capable of being understood
speculation on the odds that a communication from a far-off planet would be intelligible
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of intelligible
Several shouts were audible during the first part of the ceremony, although what was said wasn't intelligible to an Associated Press reporter in the press room.
—
ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026
For example, the device may reduce amplification in a quiet room to avoid escalating background hums or else increase amplification in a noisy café to make speech more intelligible.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 Jan. 2026
The earliest Shaker songs, including ones attributed to Lee, have no intelligible language.
—Christian Goodwillie, The Conversation, 22 Dec. 2025
His intelligible goals are, first, to create a new mass market and, second, to have Tesla hold a dominant position in that market.
—Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 14 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for intelligible
ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026
For example, the device may reduce amplification in a quiet room to avoid escalating background hums or else increase amplification in a noisy café to make speech more intelligible.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 Jan. 2026
The earliest Shaker songs, including ones attributed to Lee, have no intelligible language.
—Christian Goodwillie, The Conversation, 22 Dec. 2025
His intelligible goals are, first, to create a new mass market and, second, to have Tesla hold a dominant position in that market.
—Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 14 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for intelligible
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intelligible
Adjective
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That anxiety is understandable.—
Edward Timmons,
Oc Register,
26 Mar. 2026
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The public at large bought into those efforts with little skepticism in the understandable desire to have Latinos star in the American story.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Police recommend using the PortMiami Tunnel, accessible from I‑395, to avoid congestion.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
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The system is designed to be accessible on the software side, allowing developers to test new behaviors in real environments such as homes or dorms.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Dahl’s revulsion at the violence committed in Israel’s name is at once comprehensible, in and of itself, and rooted in Dahl’s set of antisemitic beliefs.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
24 Mar. 2026
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Davis is wry and quietly defiant of stereotype, her Elaine’s composure hard-won and her sacrifice of certain kinds of sympathy fully comprehensible.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Intelligible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intelligible. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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