UNINTELLIGIBLE Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

unintelligible

adjective

ˌən-in-ˈte-lə-jə-bəl

Definition of unintelligible

as in incomprehensible

impossible to understand uttered only a string of unintelligible murmurs

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Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of unintelligible Assuming viewers understood the history of English soccer — or even the offside rule — could make the broadcasts unintelligible for new fans who understood neither. — Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026 Incomplete, corrupted, untimely, or unintelligible Submissions or Submission Forms will be disqualified. — August 16, NPR, 16 Aug. 2026 When the surveillance footage resumes about an hour later, a man can be heard shouting, but the words are unintelligible, and a vehicle horn sounds. — Kansas City Star, 10 Aug. 2026 Claypool’s voice, formerly a sharp and declarative figure in the mix, slinks down into silty waters, often unintelligible and almost always emotionally ambiguous. — Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork, 2 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unintelligible

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unintelligible

Adjective

Days before the openings, the prospect of showing across his hometown still seemed to Hodges about as incomprehensible as a dream.

— Tara Anne Dalbow, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
Stanton’s confession ends up being incomprehensible to anyone but himself—an irony that McCarthy, with his partiality for secret codes, seems to take great pleasure in.

— Max Callimanopulos, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of incomprehensible

Adjective

Berg, working with DP Jacques Jouffret, favors close shots that force us to experience battle much like our heroes do, as confusing, terrifying bursts of mayhem.

— Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026
However, by creating official federal standards for their color, brightness, and location, NHTSA wants to make sure that any automaker who chooses to add them uses a consistent, legal setup instead of a confusing mix of different colors and signals.

— Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of confusing

Adjective

For many people, however, the presentation instead bears an uncanny and unfortunate resemblance to imagery used in Nazi-era Germany.

— Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
The man does seem to have an uncanny ability to pick projects that will have a long shelf life — everything from Up in Smoke and Harold and Maude to Singles, Steel Magnolias, Poison Ivy, and Contact.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of uncanny

Adjective

Here’s a prime example of a more cryptic style of clue that sometimes pops up in late-week puzzles.

— Sean McGowan, New York Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Kermode was curious, if not slightly annoyed about all this cryptic communication and the request for a secret rendezvous.

— David Fear, Rolling Stone, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of cryptic

Adjective

Solid-state physics in its early days was just an esoteric exercise to satisfy curiosity.

— Mattanjah de Vries, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
Christie’s confidence that the canvas will hit its mark is based on a far more esoteric criterion, as Max Carter, the house’s global chair of twentieth- and twenty-first-century art, told Artnet News.

— News Desk, Artforum, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of esoteric

Adjective

But the Broncos aren’t just about putting the ball in the back of the net — their defense has allowed just six goals all season and is led by near-impenetrable sophomore goalkeeper Ava de Leest.

— Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 17 Oct. 2026
Even top experts have found OpenAI’s proof of blowup to be completely impenetrable.

— Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of impenetrable

Adjective

Taken together, these two mistakes represented an almost-unfathomable breach of basic diligence.

— Daniel Duane, New York Times, 14 Oct. 2026
The Baltimore Ravens were in a goal-to-go setting, trailing 23-15 and needing to do the statistically unfathomable — according to CBS, teams behind by 8-plus points inside the final minute had lost 581 straight games.

— Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 12 Oct. 2026