ungraspable

adjective

ˌən-ˈgra-spə-bəl How to pronounce ungraspable (audio)
Definition of ungraspablenext
as in incomprehensible
impossible to understand advanced scientific theories of ungraspable complexity for the layperson

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 ungraspable What looked readable from above becomes ungraspable at ground level. — Daniel Scheffler, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2026 This is an ungraspable tragedy and loss. — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Apr. 2026 To me, the self becomes a shifting monument, a territoire in perpetual metamorphosis, alive, fluid, and ungraspable. — Mame-Diarra Niang, Artforum, 2 Nov. 2025 Its scope is gargantuan and ungraspable, and as such, the appropriate level of grief does not seem human in scale. — Literary Hub, 21 July 2025 Paul’s attachments are ungraspable, transient, and forever underwritten by raw desire. — Vlada Gelman, TVLine, 27 Jan. 2025 One gazes into the geographical expanse of this place to try to grasp the ungraspable scale of things. — Andrew Cockburn, Harper’s Magazine , 5 Jan. 2023 The scope of something inexpressible, a mammoth, ungraspable intimation, had overtaken him. — Greg Jackson, The New Yorker, 22 Nov. 2021 Eraserhead was so ungraspable, so far into left field, that most critics dismissed it at the time. — Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ungraspable
  1. incomprehensible
  2. mysterious
  3. unfathomable
  4. uncanny
  5. unintelligible
  6. impenetrable
  7. esoteric
  8. confusing
Adjective
  • But given the profundity of her subject matter and the near-universal awe her art inspires, perhaps this sense of futility gestures at the incomprehensible, even transcendent aura around Petviashvili’s works.
    — The Editors of ARTnews, ARTnews.com, 28 July 2026
  • Here are three stars that appear neatly connected overhead, but in reality, one is separated by an incomprehensible distance.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 24 July 2026
Definition of incomprehensible
Adjective
  • Then there’s the new, mysterious character played by Sadie Sink, introducing a major element of MCU lore that has very little to do with Spider-Man.
    — David Sims, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026
  • And after a few days of searching, law enforcement received a mysterious eyewitness tip.
    — Dateline NBC, NBC news, 30 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
  • 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
  • Claypool’s voice, formerly a sharp and declarative figure in the mix, slinks down into silty waters, often unintelligible and almost always emotionally ambiguous.
    — Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork, 2 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of unintelligible
Adjective
  • At a time when Disney’s once-impenetrable Marvel Cinematic Universe has been exhibiting concerning signs of wear and tear at the box office, Spider-Man is getting more and more powerful.
    — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 28 July 2026
  • The Phalanx was composed of men who moved and fought as one cohesive unit, creating an impenetrable wall of interlocking shields.
    — Steve Muscato, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Definition of impenetrable
Adjective
  • Of course, Yamagata is a long way to go just to peep some jellyfish, so combine a visit with the misty temples of nearby Dewa Sanzan, three mountains sacred to the ascetics of the esoteric Shugendo religion.
    — Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 2 Aug. 2026
  • To waste all these resources on some esoteric arty thing, that’s when the schism started to happen for me.
    — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 29 July 2026
Definition of esoteric
Adjective
  • Jean appears to be the first character in that reset, which is confusing because the old versions of various X-Men characters are still here.
    — Eliana Dockterman, Time, 31 July 2026
  • Meanwhile, thousands more are waiting in county jails for cases that are winding through a new, convoluted and confusing system where geography controls the rules.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026
Definition of confusing

Browse Nearby Words

ungrammatical
ungraspable
ungrateful
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ungraspable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ungraspable. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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