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

WandaVision gave the character the space and time to struggle with her grief and commit unspeakable acts in the process. —Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 31 Oct. 2024

Skinwalkers are believed to be those who have committed unspeakable acts, gaining dark powers in return. —Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 10 Oct. 2024

Now, in a conversation with PEOPLE, Melissa says the family faced unspeakable grief afterward — and her relationship with her mom was torn apart. —Gillian Telling, Peoplemag, 14 Sep. 2024

Her cinema is implosive – the very word used by Martin Scorsese, who produced Hogg’s last three films, to describe the way her films often bring inconvenient and even unspeakable truths to light. —Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 26 July 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