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

Eldritch Horror pits players against one of the Great Old Ones in a worldwide hunt for cursed tomes, cult temples and unspeakable monsters. —Rob Wieland, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024

No family or community should ever endure such unspeakable heartbreak. —Natalie Eilbert, Journal Sentinel, 19 Dec. 2024

Separating families, deporting U.S. citizen children, and causing unspeakable chaos to our economy and country is firmly stated in his agenda. —Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024

There’s before unseen parent Arnold Filmore calls unseen parent Myla Townes an unspeakable name, and there’s after. —Sara Holdren, Vulture, 16 Dec. 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