# ineffable

/ˌɪˈnɛfəbəɫ/ (US) · /ɪnˈɛfəbəl/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ineffable
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

too great or beautiful to be described with words. You use this when a feeling is so strong that you cannot explain it exactly.

For teachers: too great, sacred, or intense to be expressed or described in words. Frequently used in literary or theological contexts to denote qualities beyond human comprehension.

## Examples

- The mountain sunset fills her with ineffable joy.
- After the long journey, the travelers felt an ineffable sense of relief as they finally crossed the border.
- The poet spent years trying to capture the ineffable beauty of the arctic landscape, yet eventually admitted that language alone could never match the physical experience.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.