unspeakable

adjective

un·​speak·​able ˌən-ˈspē-kə-bəl 

1

a

: incapable of being expressed in words : unutterable

b

: inexpressibly bad : horrendous

unspeakable living conditions

unspeakable evil

2

: that may not or cannot be spoken

the bawdy thoughts that come into one's head—the unspeakable words

—L. P. Smith

unspeakable collections of consonants

—Rosemary Jellis

unspeakably

ˌən-ˈspē-kə-blē 

adverb

Synonyms

• incommunicable
• indefinable
• indescribable
• ineffable
• inenarrable
• inexpressible
• nameless
• uncommunicable
• unutterable

Examples of unspeakable in a Sentence

the unspeakable horror of war

continually encountered unspeakable beauty in their travels through the Alps

Recent Examples on the Web

May God be pleased with her works and may peace, understanding and unspeakable joy be yours always. —Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2024

Their stories of their years and years fighting overseas, being away from their families for 300+ days a year, and witnessing unspeakable horrors, makes up the spine of the film. —Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 2 Sep. 2024

She’s done some unspeakable things but also had the same level of trauma happen to her. —Katie Campione, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2024

The families of the children have shared tributes in the wake of this unspeakable tragedy. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 30 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

unspeakable

adjective

un·​speak·​able ˌən-ˈspē-kə-bəl 

ˈən-

1

: impossible to express in words

unspeakable beauty of the sunset

2

: extremely bad

unspeakable conduct

unspeakably

-blē 

adverb