If something is inexplicable, you cannot explain why it happens or why it is true.
His behaviour was extraordinary and inexplicable.
For some inexplicable reason, the investors decided to pull out.
Synonyms: unaccountable, strange, mysterious, baffling More Synonyms of inexplicable
inexplicably (ɪnɪksplɪkəbli)adverb [usually ADVERB with verb, oft ADVERB adjective]
She suddenly and inexplicably announced her retirement.
His wartime experiences were inexplicably absent from the diaries.
inexplicable in British English
(ˌɪnɪkˈsplɪkəbəl, ɪnˈɛksplɪkəbəl) or inexplainable
adjective
not capable of explanation; unexplainable
Derived forms
inexplicability (ˌinexplicaˈbility) or inexplicableness (ˌinexˈplicableness) or inexplainability (ˌinexˌplainaˈbility) or inexplainableness (ˌinexˈplainableness)
noun
inexplicably (ˌinexˈplicably) or inexplainably (ˌinexˈplainably)
adverb
inexplicable in American English
(ɪnˈɛksplɪkəbəl; often ˌ ɪnɛkˈsplɪkəbəl; ˌɪnɪkˈsplɪkəbəl)
adjective
not explicable; that cannot be explained, understood, or accounted for
Derived forms
inexplicability (inˌexplicaˈbility)
noun
inexplicably (inˈexplicably)
adverb
Word origin
Fr < L inexplicabilis
Examples of 'inexplicable' in a sentence
inexplicable
How do you explain the seemingly inexplicable?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
There is always something inexplicable about hideous crimes.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Perhaps what had seemed inexplicable then would not seem inexplicable now.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
How else to understand the otherwise cruelly inexplicable?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Those powerful and seemingly inexplicable sensations which an anxious person experiences in some situations are in fact easily explained.
Hambly, Dr Kenneth Banish Anxiety - how to stop worrying and take charge of your life (1991)
Is there an otherwise inexplicable fact?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The drop-off in production that followed the change of clubs was almost inexplicable.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
At his first school, his odd and inexplicable behaviour continued.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The armoured regiments and the Guards remain for some inexplicable reason untouched.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
If the camera stops working for inexplicable electronic reasons, check the batteries.
Freeman, Michael Photographers Handbook (1993)
For some inexplicable reason, they had hit the glass in their millions.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
But for some inexplicable reason he opted to turn and attempt to pass back to Mannone.
The Sun (2014)
But in these oppressive surroundings, the seemingly inexplicable becomes very worrying and you begin to look for other explanations.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It's been suggested that this otherwise inexplicable aspect of chimp life is a little bit like a religious service.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
For anyone on the outside the concept can seem inexplicable: who on earth would watch other people play computer games?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Otherwise, her misery seems inexplicable.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It also felt unlikely to run away with you, so that its stiff switch remains inexplicable but seems far less important.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
His behaviour was inexplicable, angry and aggressive, he had outbursts that were nonsensical.
The Sun (2011)
If we did something inexplicable and strange, we'd probably be praying.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
inexplicable
British English: inexplicable ADJECTIVE
If something is inexplicable, you cannot explain why it happens or why it is true.
His behaviour was extraordinary and inexplicable.
American English: inexplicable
Brazilian Portuguese: inexplicável
Chinese: 无法解释的
European Spanish: inexplicable
French: inexplicable
German: unerklärlich
Italian: inspiegabile
Japanese: 説明がつかない
Korean: 불가사의한
European Portuguese: inexplicável
Latin American Spanish: inexplicable
Chinese translation of 'inexplicable'
inexplicable
(ɪnɪkˈsplɪkəbl)
adj
[decision, mistake]莫名其妙的 (mò míng qí miào de)
(adjective)
Definition
impossible to explain
Your behaviour was extraordinary and inexplicable.
Synonyms
unaccountable
He had an unaccountable change of mind.
strange
There was something strange about the flickering blue light.
mysterious
He died in mysterious circumstances.
baffling
I was constantly ill, with a baffling array of symptoms.
enigmatic
She starred in one of Welles's most enigmatic films.
incomprehensible
incomprehensible mathematics puzzles
mystifying
unintelligible
She muttered something unintelligible.
pages inscribed with unintelligible characters
insoluble
an insoluble dilemma that I could do nothing about
inscrutable
Even when opened the contents of the package were as inscrutable as ever.
unfathomable
How unfathomable and odd is life!
beyond comprehension
Opposites
understandable
,
comprehensible
,
explicable
,
soluble
,
intelligible
,
explainable
,
fathomable
Additional synonyms
in the sense of baffling
I was constantly ill, with a baffling array of symptoms.
Synonyms
puzzling,
strange,
confusing,
weird,
mysterious,
unclear,
bewildering,
elusive,
enigmatic,
perplexing,
incomprehensible,
mystifying,
inexplicable,
unaccountable,
unfathomable
in the sense of enigmatic
She starred in one of Welles's most enigmatic films.