adjective
unintelligible
uh-nihn-TEH-lihd-zhih-buhl
Unintelligible (adjective) means Impossible or very hard to understand. Example: “His mumbled reply was completely unintelligible.”
adjective
1
Impossible or very hard to understand.
"His mumbled reply was completely unintelligible."
"The old contract was written in almost unintelligible legal jargon."
How to use unintelligible
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSo garbled, unclear, or badly expressed that no one can make sense of it.
Common pairings
unintelligible mumble
unintelligible jargon
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more unintelligible
- Superlative
- most unintelligible
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His mumbled reply was completely _____.
Etymology
From un- + intelligible.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for unintelligible
See all rhymes for unintelligible →Frequently asked questions
What does “unintelligible” mean?
The word “unintelligible” means impossible or very hard to understand. In plain terms, so garbled, unclear, or badly expressed that no one can make sense of it.
How do you pronounce “unintelligible”?
“Unintelligible” is pronounced uh-nihn-TEH-lihd-zhih-buhl (/ˌʌnɪnˈtɛlɪd͡ʒɪbəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “unintelligible” in a sentence?
Here is “unintelligible” used in a sentence: “His mumbled reply was completely unintelligible.”
What is the opposite of “unintelligible”?
The opposite of “unintelligible” — its antonyms — is intelligible.
What part of speech is “unintelligible”?
“Unintelligible” is an adjective.