Unintelligible language is impossible to understand, for example because it is not written or pronounced clearly, or because its meaning is confused or complicated.
He muttered something unintelligible.
I did my best to join in, but the conversation was largely unintelligible.
...the unintelligible phrases and images of his earlier poems.
Synonyms: incomprehensible, incoherent, inarticulate, meaningless More Synonyms of unintelligible
unintelligible in British English
(ˌʌnɪnˈtɛlɪdʒɪbəl)
adjective
not able to be understood; incomprehensible
unintelligible in American English
(ˌʌnɪnˈtɛlɪdʒəbəl)
adjective
not intelligible; that cannot be understood; incomprehensible
Derived forms
unintelligibility (ˌuninˌtelligiˈbility)
noun
unintelligibly (ˌuninˈtelligibly)
adverb
Examples of 'unintelligible' in a sentence
unintelligible
Which is why he mumbled something unintelligible instead.
The Sun (2014)
He said something unintelligible and shoved the money back at me.
Sidney Sheldon The Other Side of Me
But he had difficulty breathing and his speech was almost unintelligible.
The Sun (2013)
Many mutually unintelligible languages of today are "daughter" languages of a common "parent" language.
Harris, Marvin Cultural Anthropology (1995)
I could almost see the unintelligible vocabulary of academia flying over their heads.
Christianity Today (2000)
I had told my friends to warn their parents so they were prepared for his unintelligible conversation.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Advance copies of the ballot showed a ponderous, almost unintelligible, question.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Although October is often opaque and unintelligible, it is not utterly bereft of sense.
Kimball, Roger Tenured Radicals: How Politics Has Corrupted Higher Education (1990)
He was doing something almost unintelligible in terms of British political culture yet central to that of the US.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
unintelligible
British English: unintelligible ADJECTIVE
Unintelligible language is impossible to understand, for example because it is not written or pronounced clearly, or because its meaning is confused or complicated.
He muttered something unintelligible.
American English: unintelligible
Brazilian Portuguese: ininteligível
Chinese: 令人费解的
European Spanish: ininteligible
French: inintelligible
German: unverständlich
Italian: incomprensibile
Japanese: 理解不可能な
Korean: 이해할 수 없는
European Portuguese: ininteligível
Latin American Spanish: ininteligible
(adjective)
Definition
impossible to make out or understand
She muttered something unintelligible.pages inscribed with unintelligible characters
Synonyms
incomprehensible
Her speech was almost incomprehensible.
incoherent
As the evening progressed he became increasingly incoherent.
inarticulate
She made an inarticulate noise in the back of her throat.
meaningless
muddled
the muddled thinking of the Government's transport policy
jumbled
unfathomable
How unfathomable and odd is life!
illegible
Incomplete or illegible applications will not be considered.
indistinct
The lettering is fuzzy and indistinct.
indecipherable
Her writing is virtually indecipherable.
Opposites
clear
,
understandable
,
comprehensible
,
coherent
,
lucid
,
intelligible
,
legible
Additional synonyms
in the sense of illegible
Definition
unable to be read or deciphered
Incomplete or illegible applications will not be considered.
Synonyms
indecipherable,
unreadable,
faint,
crabbed,
scrawled,
hieroglyphic,
hard to make out,
undecipherable,
obscure
in the sense of inarticulate
Definition
unable to express oneself clearly or well
She made an inarticulate noise in the back of her throat.
Synonyms
incoherent,
incomprehensible,
unintelligible,
unclear,
mumbled,
muffled,
indistinct,
poorly spoken
in the sense of incoherent
Definition
not logically connected or ordered
As the evening progressed he became increasingly incoherent.
Synonyms
unintelligible,
wild,
confused,
disordered,
wandering,
muddled,
rambling,
inconsistent,
jumbled,
stammering,
disconnected,
stuttering,
unconnected,
disjointed,
inarticulate,
uncoordinated
Nearby words of
unintelligible
uninspired
uninspiring
unintelligent
unintelligible
unintentional
uninterested
uninteresting
Synonyms of 'unintelligible'
unintelligible
Explore 'unintelligible' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of indecipherable
Definition
impossible to read
Her writing is virtually indecipherable.
Synonyms
illegible,
unintelligible,
indistinguishable,
unreadable,
crabbed
in the sense of indistinct
Definition
unable to be seen or heard clearly
The lettering is fuzzy and indistinct.
Synonyms
unclear,
confused,
obscure,
faint,
blurred,
vague,
doubtful,
ambiguous,
fuzzy,
shadowy,
indefinite,
misty,
hazy,
unintelligible,
indistinguishable,
indeterminate,
bleary,
undefined,
out of focus,
ill-defined,
indiscernible
in the sense of muddled
the muddled thinking of the Government's transport policy