Word
unspeakable
Phoneticsun·speak·able
US/ənˈspikəbəɫ/
UK/ʌnspˈiːkəbəl/
Definition
adj. too terrible or shocking to be described with words. You use this when something is so bad that you cannot even talk about it.
adj. too extreme, intense, or horrific to be expressed in words. Often used to describe profound suffering or moral atrocities.
Examples
“The victims suffered unspeakable pain during the war.”
“The documentary reveals the unspeakable conditions inside the abandoned prison during the late nineteenth century.”
“The survivors were left to grapple with the unspeakable trauma of the disaster, finding that language was often insufficient to convey the depth of their loss.”
Examples
simple
“The victims suffered unspeakable pain during the war.”
contextual
“The documentary reveals the unspeakable conditions inside the abandoned prison during the late nineteenth century.”
complex
“The survivors were left to grapple with the unspeakable trauma of the disaster, finding that language was often insufficient to convey the depth of their loss.”
Usage
Typically used attributively before a noun to emphasize the extreme nature of a negative quality.
Real-World Examples
“The survivors carved their unspeakable grief into the landscape with the erection of thousands of war memorials.” “Understand the horror: on the day you read this, as on every other, an average of 17 people will die in unspeakable pain, disgust and terror that nothing can relieve.” Etymology
From Middle English unspekable, equivalent to un- + speakable.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/unspeakable