UNINTELLIGIBLE Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

unintelligible

adjective

ˌən-in-ˈte-lə-jə-bəl

Definition of unintelligible

as in incomprehensible

impossible to understand uttered only a string of unintelligible murmurs

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 unintelligible 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 The adversaries made for a striking scene, exchanging insults in mutually unintelligible languages in the dead of night. — Literary Hub, 16 June 2026 Brig is in the Upper Valais, a gaunt and conservative place where the inhabitants speak Walliser German, an Alpine dialect that many Swiss people find unintelligible. — Sam Knight, New Yorker, 1 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for unintelligible

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unintelligible

Adjective

Painfully aware of this, Shawn waited for one of the drunk old men to comment, heckle, make one of those incomprehensible jokes that drew rude laughter from adults.

— Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
Sure, the story is incomprehensible, and Dylan is far from a great actor.

— Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of incomprehensible

Adjective

Someone who has regarded filmmaking as a mysterious occupation might begin to see a way into it.

— Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
But despite these regular airings, the origin of the mysterious Jardine Star Brooch has remained tantalizingly unexplained for decades.

— Eva Wolchover, Vanity Fair, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of mysterious

Adjective

The slightly confusing part is that the star at that corner, Alpheratz, belongs to Andromeda rather than Pegasus.

— Jamie Carter, Space.com, 9 Oct. 2026
And in another confusing fact, somehow, Wall Street wasn’t nominated for Best Picture, nor was Oliver Stone for directing.

— Michael Douglas, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of confusing

Adjective

Its obvious artificiality and absurdity fit neatly into an online meme culture that often revels in the uncanny.

— Angela Yang, NBC news, 7 Oct. 2026
All of this is part of Flanagan’s general preference for giving characters the benefit of the doubt and for grounding the eerie and the uncanny in our lived experiences.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of uncanny

Adjective

The cryptic eco-disaster project will represent a loss of hundreds of millions when all is said and done.

— Matt Donnelly, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
Emanuel’s cryptic comment comes amid claims that Meghan was in early talks to star in the third season of Guy Ritchie’s Netflix series The Gentlemen.

— Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of cryptic

Adjective

There’s as much effort gone into the food as there is the drinks menu, and the esoteric array of tropical flavors straddles both impressively.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026
Created in the 17th century, Japan’s Fujiko faith fuses Shinto and esoteric Buddhism in its reverence for Mount Fuji, the country’s highest peak.

— The Week UK, TheWeek, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of esoteric

Adjective

Medical bills are often impenetrable documents littered with complex codes and terminology, and sorting through charges and details about insurance coverage can feel intimidating, if not downright paralyzing.

— Jennifer Schlinger, The Conversation, 6 Oct. 2026
The San Juans are among the most impenetrable mountains in the West.

— Peter Hessler, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of impenetrable

Adjective

The Baltimore Ravens were in a goal-to-go setting, trailing 23-15 and needing to do the statistically unfathomable — according to CBS, teams behind by 8-plus points inside the final minute had lost 581 straight games.

— Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 12 Oct. 2026
From 2021 through last season, the Knicks boasted an unfathomable 18-2 record against their Eastern Conference counterpart Washington Wizards.

— Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 9 Oct. 2026