unexplainable

adjective

ˌən-ik-ˈsplā-nə-bəl How to pronounce unexplainable (audio)
Definition of unexplainablenext
as in inexplicable
impossible to explain a series of unexplainable weather events

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 unexplainable Her unexplainable absences leads to a lack of hope, wisdom, and encouragement Odysseus desperately needs in peril. — Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 17 July 2026 This somber Australian chiller, done in an exceptionally authentic faux-doc style, follows a family trying to piece together unexplainable supernatural events in the aftermath of their daughter’s tragic, seemingly accidental death. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 July 2026 People often search for answers after tragedy, looking for something that might explain the unexplainable. — Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 28 June 2026 Once again, a great NBA team is left to explain the unexplainable after losing in a most unimaginable way. — Joe Vardon, New York Times, 11 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for unexplainable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unexplainable
  1. inexplicable
  2. irrational
  3. unreasonable
  4. unaccountable
  5. unusual
Adjective
  • The film fails to convey the fearsome, inexplicable beauty that Herzog clearly sees (or perhaps once saw) in this story.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026
  • What will happen to the stage where Elvis’s swiveling pelvis was kept demurely out of frame, where the Beatles made their American debut, where Jackie Mason may or may not have flipped the bird at the host, where Topo Gigio found inexplicable fame?
    — Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of inexplicable
Adjective
  • But the question remained unsolved for polygons with irrational angles.
    — Sam Macdonald, Scientific American, 14 Aug. 2026
  • As a result, the argument goes, today's spending is irrational because the hardware would need to be replaced too frequently to generate an attractive return on investment, known as ROI.
    — , CNBC, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of irrational
Adjective
  • Your expectations of your stepsons aren’t unreasonable at all.
    — R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2026
  • If the prosecution’s version of the evidence is reasonable and the defense’s is unreasonable, then that is not reasonable doubt.
    — Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of unreasonable
Adjective
  • The bottom line for now is that the city is allowing the unaccountable operation of thousands of untaxed machines while simultaneously counting on revenue from their VGT and casino competitors.
    — Joe Ferguson, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
  • This year alone, $5 billion in taxpayer funds will be siphoned away from public schools to prop up Florida’s unaccountable voucher program, diverting dollars from the more than 80% of children who attend public schools.
    — Andrew Spar, Sun Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of unaccountable
Adjective
  • If a machine encounters something unusual or gets stuck, someone monitoring the fleet can briefly intervene until the autonomous system is ready to take back over.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The changes occurred amid an unusual rollout of the blog post.
    — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of unusual

Browse Nearby Words

unexpectedly
unexplainable
unexplored
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unexplainable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unexplainable. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
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 gist

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

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

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
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
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All