unattributable
Cannot be credited
Unattributable describes something that cannot be traced back to a source or origin.
A journalist might quote an unattributable source—someone who provides information on condition of anonymity.
Intelligence agencies deal in unattributable operations designed to leave no fingerprints.
The leak came from an unattributable source within the administration.
Impossible to follow back
- unidentifiedNot yet recognized
- uncreditedNot formally recognized
- unacknowledgedNot formally recognized
- namelessWithout any designation
unclaimed · undisclosed · anonymous · pseudonymous · ghostwritten · unsigned · sourceless · authorless
Not easily understood
- ambiguousHaving multiple interpretations
- nebulousUnclear and formless
- vagueUnclear, ill-defined
- indefiniteNot precisely determined
imprecise · equivocal · indistinct · uncertain · inconclusive · unspecified · undetermined · unresolved
Cannot be accounted for
- unknowableImpossible to understand
- inscrutableImpossible to understand
- enigmaticPuzzling and obscure
- crypticObscure in meaning
unfathomable · impenetrable · baffling · perplexing · puzzling · unexplainable · confounding · mystifying
untraceable
Impossible to follow back
- unidentifiedNot yet recognized
- uncreditedNot formally recognized
- unacknowledgedNot formally recognized
nameless · unclaimed · undisclosed · anonymous · pseudonymous · ghostwritten · unsigned · sourceless · authorless · orphaned
unclear
Not easily understood
indefinite · imprecise · equivocal · indistinct · uncertain · inconclusive · unspecified · undetermined · unresolved · open-ended
inexplicable
Cannot be accounted for
- unknowableImpossible to understand
- inscrutableImpossible to understand
- enigmaticPuzzling and obscure
cryptic · unfathomable · impenetrable · baffling · perplexing · puzzling · unexplainable · confounding · mystifying · sphinxlike
- confidentialconfidential, secret, private, classified, undisclosed
unattributableattributable
Able to assign origin
traceable · ascribable · imputable · referable · assignable
unattributablequotable
Worth citing verbatim
citable · on the record · attributed · attributable · sourceable
tribute, distribute, attribute, contribute, tributary, retribution, attribution, attributes, attributable