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
L. P. Smithunspeakable collections of consonants—Rosemary Jellis
Rosemary JellisExamples 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
At the heart of the film are individual memories of the unspeakable, life-altering agony that Vahid and his companions suffered—experiences that, in light of Panahi’s own persecution, take on a devastating personal significance.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 27 May 2025
In its place was a spirit of unity and kindness, a solidarity born out of unspeakable tragedy.
—Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 25 May 2025
Following the collapse of the USSR, historians and cultural critics delved into negative aspects of Soviet rule that had previously been publicly unspeakable.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 20 May 2025
Unencumbered by the stark binary of good and evil, Bring Her Back argues that love and longing can drive us to unspeakable acts.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for unspeakable
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Justin Chang, New Yorker, 27 May 2025
In its place was a spirit of unity and kindness, a solidarity born out of unspeakable tragedy.
—Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 25 May 2025
Following the collapse of the USSR, historians and cultural critics delved into negative aspects of Soviet rule that had previously been publicly unspeakable.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 20 May 2025
Unencumbered by the stark binary of good and evil, Bring Her Back argues that love and longing can drive us to unspeakable acts.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for unspeakable
Cite this Entry
“Unspeakable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unspeakable. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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