You describe people or things as nameless when you do not know their name or when they do not have a name.
They can have their cases rejected, without reasons being given, by nameless officials.
Synonyms: unnamed, unknown, obscure, anonymous More Synonyms of nameless
2. adjective [verb-link ADJECTIVE]
If you say that someone or something will remainnameless, you mean that you will not mention their name, often because you do not want to embarrass them.
A local friend who shall be nameless warned me that I was in for trouble soon.
More Synonyms of nameless
nameless in British English
(ˈneɪmlɪs)
adjective
1.
without a name; anonymous
2.
incapable of being named; indescribable
a nameless horror seized him
3.
too unpleasant or disturbing to be mentioned
nameless atrocities
4.
having no legal name; illegitimate
a nameless child
Derived forms
namelessly (ˈnamelessly)
adverb
namelessness (ˈnamelessness)
noun
nameless in American English
(ˈneɪmlɪs)
adjective
1.
not having or bearing a name
2.
left unnamed; anonymous
a rogue who shall be nameless
3.
not publicly known; obscure
4.
lacking a legal name; illegitimate
5.
that cannot be described
nameless dread
6.
too horrid or painful to specify
nameless crimes
Derived forms
namelessly (ˈnamelessly)
adverb
namelessness (ˈnamelessness)
noun
Examples of 'nameless' in a sentence
nameless
He became a nameless terror to the ship.
Herman Melville Moby Dick (1901)
They perceive nameless horrors lurking in corners.
The Times Literary Supplement (2013)
The scheme was successful; the true owner of the body remained nameless.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Then she teaches me to imagine there is an invisible blanket around me, which apparently will protect me from nameless terrors.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Your mood swings may be wild and may leave you feeling powerless; your night sweats and insomnia may come with nameless horrors attached.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
At a time when we are forced to reassess and look ahead, a nameless existential dread can catch up with you all too easily.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Eton, like all public schools, lived in fear of the nameless vice.
Simon Ball THE GUARDSMEN (2004)
1 (adjective)
Definition
without a name
They had their cases rejected by nameless officials.
Synonyms
unnamed
unnamed comets and asteroids
unknown
He was an unknown writer.
obscure
The hymn was written by an obscure Greek composer.
anonymous
It's nice to stay in a home rather than an anonymous holiday flat.
unheard-of
an unheard-of comic waiting for his big break to come along
undistinguished
untitled
undesignated
innominate
2 (adjective)
Definition
unspecified
My source of information is a judge who wishes to remain nameless.
Synonyms
anonymous
You can remain anonymous if you wish.
unknown
Unknown thieves had forced their way into the apartment.
unnamed
The cash comes from an unnamed source.
incognito
He preferred to travel incognito.
3 (adjective)
Definition
too horrible to speak about
He was suddenly seized by a nameless dread.
Synonyms
horrible
Still the horrible shrieking came out of his mouth.
unspeakable
the unspeakable horrors of chemical weapons
indescribable
The stench from the sewer is indescribable.
abominable
The President described the attack as an abominable crime.
ineffable
the ineffable sadness of many of the portraits
unutterable
An unutterable sadness swept over her.
inexpressible
I felt a sudden inexpressible loneliness.
unmentionable
Has he got some unmentionable disease?
Additional synonyms
in the sense of abominable
Definition
very bad or unpleasant
The President described the attack as an abominable crime.
Synonyms
detestable,
shocking,
terrible (informal),
offensive,
foul,
disgusting,
horrible,
revolting,
obscene,
vile,
horrid,
repellent,
atrocious,
obnoxious,
despicable,
repulsive,
base,
heinous,
hellish (informal),
odious,
hateful,
repugnant,
reprehensible,
loathsome,
abhorrent,
contemptible,
villainous,
nauseous,
wretched,
accursed,
execrable,
godawful (slang)
in the sense of incognito
Definition
under an assumed name or appearance
He preferred to travel incognito.
Synonyms
in disguise,
unknown,
disguised,
unrecognized,
under an assumed name
in the sense of indescribable
Definition
too intense or extreme for words
The stench from the sewer is indescribable.
Synonyms
unutterable,
indefinable,
beyond words,
ineffable,
inexpressible,
beyond description,
incommunicable,
beggaring description
Nearby words of
nameless
namby-pamby
name
named
nameless
namely
nanny
nap
Synonyms of 'nameless'
nameless
Explore 'nameless' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of ineffable
Definition
too great or intense to be expressed in words
the ineffable sadness of many of the portraits
Synonyms
indescribable,
unspeakable,
indefinable,
beyond words,
unutterable,
inexpressible,
incommunicable
in the sense of inexpressible
Definition
(of a feeling) too strong to be expressed in words
I felt a sudden inexpressible loneliness.
Synonyms
indescribable,
unspeakable,
indefinable,
ineffable,
unutterable,
incommunicable
in the sense of obscure
Definition
not well-known
The hymn was written by an obscure Greek composer.
Synonyms
unknown,
minor,
little-known,
humble,
unfamiliar,
out-of-the-way,
unseen,
lowly,
unimportant,
unheard-of,
unsung,
nameless,
undistinguished,
inconspicuous,
unnoted,
unhonoured,
unrenowned
in the sense of unheard-of
an unheard-of comic waiting for his big break to come along
Synonyms
obscure,
unknown,
undiscovered,
unfamiliar,
little known,
unsung,
unremarked,
unregarded
in the sense of unknown
Definition
not famous
He was an unknown writer.
Synonyms
obscure,
little known,
minor,
humble,
unfamiliar,
insignificant,
lowly,
unimportant,
unheard-of,
unsung,
inconsequential,
undistinguished,
unrenowned
in the sense of unknown
Definition
not known, understood, or recognized
Unknown thieves had forced their way into the apartment.