unplayable
adjective
un·play·able
ˌən-ˈplā-ə-bəl 
: not capable of being played or suitable to be played : not playable
a golf course rendered unplayable by heavy rains
dealt an unplayable card
music so complex as to be almost unplayable
Service is my strong point at tennis. I am inaccurate, but vigorous, and occasionally send in a quite unplayable shot.—
P. G. Wodehouse
P. G. Wodehousefound the ball in an unplayable lie [=a position that does not allow a shot to be made]
Examples of unplayable in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Tuesday’s game between the Braves and Giants at Truist Park was suspended in the bottom of the second due to unplayable field conditions.
—Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 17 June 2026
In general, under FIFA World Cup regulations, if a tropical storm or a hurricane makes a match completely unplayable, the game could be delayed, postponed to another day, or relocated, possibly to another host city.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 10 June 2026
Torrential rains rendered the two grass fields unplayable.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2026
The Italian team that awaited in the decider had just come through a remarkable semi-final against West Germany in near-unplayable temperatures, with their tournament dominated by the debate surrounding midfielders Sandro Mazzola of Inter and Gianni Rivera of Milan.
—Will Jeanes, New York Times, 5 June 2026
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Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 17 June 2026
In general, under FIFA World Cup regulations, if a tropical storm or a hurricane makes a match completely unplayable, the game could be delayed, postponed to another day, or relocated, possibly to another host city.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 10 June 2026
Torrential rains rendered the two grass fields unplayable.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2026
The Italian team that awaited in the decider had just come through a remarkable semi-final against West Germany in near-unplayable temperatures, with their tournament dominated by the debate surrounding midfielders Sandro Mazzola of Inter and Gianni Rivera of Milan.
—Will Jeanes, New York Times, 5 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for unplayable
Cite this Entry
“Unplayable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unplayable. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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