Word
unreadable
Phoneticsun·read·able
US/ˈənˈɹidəbəɫ/
UK/ʌnɹˈiːdəbəl/
Definition
adj. so messy, small, or unclear that you cannot read it. You use it for handwriting, books, or screens that are too hard to follow.
adj. impossible or extremely difficult to read or decipher due to poor handwriting, damage, small print, or overly complex style. Extends from physical legibility to stylistic obscurity.
Examples
“His handwriting is so messy that it is unreadable.”
“The rain smeared the ink on the note, so the address is unreadable.”
“After decades in the damp archive, the captain's log had become faded and unreadable except for a few dates in the margins.”
Examples
simple
“His handwriting is so messy that it is unreadable.”
contextual
“The rain smeared the ink on the note, so the address is unreadable.”
complex
“After decades in the damp archive, the captain's log had become faded and unreadable except for a few dates in the margins.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “unreadable” in context.
Verb
01. become unreadable
“The whiteboard writing faded and became unreadable after a week.”
verb + adj
02. find unreadable
“Many students find Shakespeare's original text unreadable at first.”
verb + adj
03. make unreadable
“Heavy rain made the address unreadable on the envelope.”
verb + adj
04. render unreadable
“A computer virus rendered the files unreadable overnight.”
verb + adj
Adjective
05. almost unreadable
“The screen was cracked and almost unreadable in sunlight.”
adv + adj
06. completely unreadable
“His rushed notes were completely unreadable the next morning.”
adv + adj
07. largely unreadable
“The ancient manuscript is damaged and largely unreadable today.”
adv + adj
08. almost completely unreadable
“The photocopy was blurred and almost completely unreadable.”
09. badly handwritten and unreadable
“The form was badly handwritten and unreadable, so it was rejected.”
10. became unreadable after the rain
“The outdoor notice became unreadable after the rain.”
11. make the text unreadable
“A very small font can make the text unreadable on a phone.”
12. too faint and unreadable
“The pencil marks were too faint and unreadable to mark.”
Real-World Examples
“They ignored it because they are financially incentivized to keep the information hidden, and the files many hospitals did post were unreadable spreadsheets full of data that were unclear to consumers.” “Each election cycle, there are always some ballots that end up damaged or unreadable, whether due to tears or coffee spills that prevent the scanner from recognizing them.” “The heat and volcanic ash from Vesuvius destroyed the town and preserved the scrolls, but in an unreadable state, turning them into charred fragile blocks that disintegrate if unrolled physically.” “Captured from a distance, the files displayed on the laptop are indistinct and unreadable.” Etymology
From un- + readable.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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