nameless

adjective

name·​less ˈnām-ləs 

1

: obscure, undistinguished

2

: not known by name : anonymous

3

: having no legal right to a name (as due to being born to parents not married to each other)

4

: not having been given a name : unnamed

5

: not marked with a name

a nameless grave

6

a

: incapable of precise description : indefinable

b

: too repulsive or distressing to describe

namelessly adverb

namelessness noun

Synonyms

• anonymous
• faceless
• incognito
• innominate
• unbaptized
• unchristened
• unidentified
• unnamed
• untitled

Examples of nameless in a Sentence

She left the hotel with a nameless man in a black jacket.

The source for my story prefers to remain nameless.

A top government official, who shall remain nameless, has expressed concern about the decision.

The men were buried there in nameless graves.

Recent Examples on the Web

As Kopek’s nameless tormentor, Jason Bateman is chilling. —Glenn Kenny, New York Times, 13 Dec. 2024

However, Leigh is more interested in the Manchester locals who are nameless to history, observing their growing political awareness before catastrophe strikes. —Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2024

The monologue, first staged in 1930, consists of one side of a phone call between a nameless heroine and her ex. —Alex Barasch, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024

Compared to past conflicts, writing the killers as a nameless, faceless goon squad and then letting those nameless, faceless goons get away with it isn’t very affecting (or effective). —Ben Travers, IndieWire, 26 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

nameless

adjective

name·​less ˈnām-ləs 

1

: having no name

2

: not marked with a name

a nameless grave

3

: unknown entry 1, anonymous

a nameless hero

4

a

: impossible to describe

nameless fears

b

: too disgusting or disturbing to be described

nameless acts of cruelty