unspeakable
12 synonyms for unspeakable, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — So terrible or shocking that it is hard to put into words.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use unspeakable
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
unspeakable horror
unspeakable crime
unspeakable acts
Etymology
It comes from Middle English unspekable, made up of un- and speakable.
Full origin of unspeakable →Frequently asked questions
What does “unspeakable” mean?
The word “unspeakable” means so terrible or shocking that it is hard to put into words. In plain terms, too awful, or too taboo, to describe in words.
How do you use “unspeakable” in a sentence?
Here is “unspeakable” used in a sentence: “The disaster caused unspeakable suffering for the survivors.”
What part of speech is “unspeakable”?
“Unspeakable” is an adjective.
How many meanings does “unspeakable” have?
“Unspeakable” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: so terrible or shocking that it is hard to put into words.
Related words
Streisand effect
Voldemort effect
algospeak
avoidance speech
censorship
denialism
elephant in the room
emperor's new clothes
head in the sand
open secret
polite fiction
taboo
