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

The spotlight comes in two forms: a literal cone of light, its ethereal glow coming without a clear source in the sky — and the nameless antagonist, which in true teen-horror fashion is the bloodied corpse of someone with a physical spotlight for a head. —Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2024

Buy Now 20 Scary Books to Read This Halloween — Just Don't Turn Off the Lights! 03 of 15 ‘Sisters of the Lost Nation’ by Nick Medina Darkness descends on the Native American reservation where Anna was raised, and her ability to see a nameless entity suddenly takes on a more horrifying meaning. —Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 13 Oct. 2024

These include record-setting rainstorms in October 2015in South Carolina, Hurricane Matthew in 2016, Hurricane Florence in 2018, the aforementioned nameless storm in September 2024, and now Hurricane Helene. —Russ Schumacher, Discover Magazine, 8 Oct. 2024

Does the headgear transmit the (intended) nameless thunderhead of darkside wonder tinged with the barest taste of fear in the moment anyone pulls it on? —Guy Martin, Forbes, 29 Sep. 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