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

For a start, there is Emily (the tirelessly comic Amy Di Bartolomeo), who is the keeper of the flame of all things Miranda as assistant numero uno, and is frankly horrified at Andy’s nondescript clothes and unspeakable hair. —Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 6 Dec. 2024

Today, some 101 Israeli hostages remain in unspeakable Hamas captivity in Gaza. —Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2024

Flashback: The rivalry was marked with unspeakable tragedy. —Asher Price, Axios, 26 Nov. 2024

Led by McAvoy as a charismatic man masking unspeakable darkness, a dream holiday warps into an unnerving nightmare. —Matt Grobar, Deadline, 22 Nov. 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