unspoken

adjective

un·​spo·​ken ˌən-ˈspō-kən 

: not spoken : expressed or understood without being directly stated

an unspoken agreement/assumption

an unspoken rule

Phrases

unspoken to

: not spoken to

… she had sat the whole evening through in the same chair without occupation, not speaking, and unspoken to.

—Anthony Trollope

Synonyms

• implicit
• implied
• tacit
• unexpressed
• unvoiced
• wordless

Examples of unspoken in a Sentence

an unspoken promise to remain faithful to one another

Recent Examples on the Web

Safety and stability were the unspoken themes of the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco, which took place against a backdrop of violence and political uncertainty. —Erin Brodwin, Axios, 16 Jan. 2025

Your career deserves more than endless to-do lists and unspoken gratitude. —Benjamin Laker, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025

According to a Newsweek article on dealing with toxic family members, conflicts like this often arise from misaligned expectations and unspoken resentments. —Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025

This is a moment to reflect on past conversations or unspoken thoughts and feelings. —Valerie Mesa, People.com, 14 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above