# unspeakable

/ənˈspikəbəɫ/ (US) · /ʌnspˈiːkəbəl/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/unspeakable
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

too terrible or shocking to be described with words. You use this when something is so bad that you cannot even talk about it.

For teachers: 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.

## Usage notes

- Typically used attributively before a noun to emphasize the extreme nature of a negative quality.

---

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.