nameless

adjective

name·​less ˈnām-ləs How to pronounce nameless (audio)
Synonyms of namelessnext
1
: obscure, undistinguished
2
: not known by name : anonymous
3
: having no legal right to a name (as due to being born to parents not married to each other)
4
: not having been given a name : unnamed
5
: not marked with a name
a nameless grave
6
a
: incapable of precise description : indefinable
b
: too repulsive or distressing to describe
namelessly adverb
namelessness noun

Synonyms of nameless

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Examples of nameless in a Sentence

She left the hotel with a nameless man in a black jacket. The source for my story prefers to remain nameless. A top government official, who shall remain nameless, has expressed concern about the decision. The men were buried there in nameless graves.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That is the short rant for now, just another nameless no account who can find other things to do anyway. — Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026 In Boise, hundreds attended the nameless man’s funeral a few days after Christmas. — Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026 Jason Segel stars as a nameless man who breaks into a tech billionaire's house, but is surprised when the man and his wife (played by Jesse Plemons and Lily Collins) unexpectedly return. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 23 Oct. 2026 The play follows a press secretary to the Roman emperors, played by Annaleigh Ashford in the New York production opposite Joe Tapper as a journalist, with Christopher Ryan Grant as a nameless imperial official. — Mariah Kreutter, New York Times, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nameless

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nameless was in the 14th century

Rhymes for nameless

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Browse Nearby Words

name-dropping
nameless
namely
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Cite this Entry

“Nameless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nameless. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

nameless

adjective
name·​less ˈnām-ləs How to pronounce nameless (audio)
1
: having no name
2
: not marked with a name
a nameless grave
3
: unknown entry 1, anonymous
a nameless hero
4
a
: impossible to describe
nameless fears
b
: too disgusting or disturbing to be described
nameless acts of cruelty
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