as in ambiguous
not able to be known
No matter how far science advances, some things about the world will always remain unknown and unknowable. If passed, this law will have unknowable consequences.
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Recent Examples of unknowable
The future is unknowable, and probably full of monsters.
—
Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 1 May 2026
The truth in this story seems to be elusive and unknowable, and this circles back to your earlier question about what kind of assumptions are made about people with names like Saïd or Tamerlan.
—Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2026
Jonathan Cake makes for a suitably unknowable ghost memory of Willy’s long-dead brother Ben.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 9 Apr. 2026
In her first interview since the disappearance of her mother, Nancy, between January 31 and February 1, the Today host sat down with Hoda Kotb to discuss the ongoing investigation and her continued resilience in the face of unknowable pain.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unknowable
Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 1 May 2026
The truth in this story seems to be elusive and unknowable, and this circles back to your earlier question about what kind of assumptions are made about people with names like Saïd or Tamerlan.
—Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2026
Jonathan Cake makes for a suitably unknowable ghost memory of Willy’s long-dead brother Ben.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 9 Apr. 2026
In her first interview since the disappearance of her mother, Nancy, between January 31 and February 1, the Today host sat down with Hoda Kotb to discuss the ongoing investigation and her continued resilience in the face of unknowable pain.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unknowable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unknowable
Adjective
-
The entity known as Mother is left ambiguous, as is the tree inside the Cave of Wonders, but there are hints to their true nature.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
If a serious spending-reduction effort were somehow mounted anyway, the result would likely be positive for bonds — but ambiguous for equities, since the economic drag could easily outweigh the benefit of lower interest rates.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
Exciting discoveries await with the opening of various mysterious pristine boxes.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
The film stars Alan Ritchson, who is likely to return for the sequel, and follows the final recruits of a grueling Special Ops boot camp who encounter a mysterious deadly force.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
Herzog, known for his enigmatic films and single-minded commitment to achieving the impossible (pulling a boat over a mountain, for one) found a worthy artistic partner in the square-jawed, demonically charming, bug-eyed Klaus Kinski.—
Debby Wolfinsohn,
Entertainment Weekly,
27 May 2026
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In a three-and-a-half-hour duel, with all the bizarre twists, dips and flips that Medvedev’s opening matches at Roland Garros are famous for, Walton registered a 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 win with a scoreline as enigmatic as the man who landed on the short end of it.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
26 May 2026
Adjective
-
From tasting menus that spotlight a single grain variety to butcher counters featuring specific heritage breeds, professional kitchens are translating obscure agricultural choices into experiences diners remember.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 June 2026
-
What obscure motive lay behind this one?—
Wyatt Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
In no uncertain terms, the absence of those issues is bewildering, erodes the entire report’s credibility, and demands an explanation.—
Douglas Schoen,
Oc Register,
28 May 2026
-
Rumbello explains that while more people are actively seeking alternatives to pharmaceuticals, many remain uncertain about which solutions are credible.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
The impact on stocks is murkier.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
28 May 2026
-
Every couple of years, the water turns murky, regardless, and the whole tank has to be drained and refilled, explains Polojärvi.—
Deena Theresa,
Interesting Engineering,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
Though the purpose of the tunnel remains unclear, researchers theorize it may have been carved to reach a chalk layer used for quarrying building stones or producing lime.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
-
Once considered the definitive Monroe biography, Spoto’s thorough tome has been criticized for sometimes-unclear sourcing and being overly sympathetic.—
Pat Saperstein,
Variety,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unknowable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unknowable. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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