unspeakable
Too awful to voice
Unspeakable describes something so extreme it defies or resists verbal expression.
The word usually applies to horrors: unspeakable atrocities, unspeakable cruelty.
But it can intensify positive experiences too: unspeakable joy, unspeakable beauty.
Something unspeakable may also be too taboo or shameful to mention aloud: the unspeakable truth about his past.
Beyond verbal expression
- indescribableCannot be put into words
- unutterableImpossible to express verbally
- wordlessLacking spoken content
- namelessWithout any designation
indefinable · incommunicable · transcendent · overwhelming · profound · fathomless · boundless · sublime
Odiously, shockingly evil
- monstrousFrighteningly huge or wicked
- horrificExtremely shocking and dreadful
- abominableExtremely hateful or disgusting
- barbaricSavagely cruel, uncivilized
gruesome · ghastly · vile · inhuman · evil · wicked · brutal · savage
Too shameful to discuss
- forbiddenNot allowed
- censoredSuppressed from publication
- off-limitsProhibited from access
- hush-hushHighly confidential matter
shameful · stigmatized · scandalous · obscene · profane · blasphemous · indecent · improper
ineffable
Beyond verbal expression
- indescribableCannot be put into words
- unutterableImpossible to express verbally
- wordlessLacking spoken content
nameless · indefinable · incommunicable · transcendent · overwhelming · profound · fathomless · boundless · sublime · unfathomable
heinous
Odiously, shockingly evil
- monstrousFrighteningly huge or wicked
- horrificExtremely shocking and dreadful
- abominableExtremely hateful or disgusting
barbaric · gruesome · ghastly · vile · inhuman · evil · wicked · brutal · savage · cruel
unmentionable
Too shameful to discuss
- forbiddenNot allowed
- censoredSuppressed from publication
- off-limitsProhibited from access
hush-hush · shameful · stigmatized · scandalous · obscene · profane · blasphemous · indecent · improper · indelicate
- apophatic theologynegative theology, via negativa, unsaying, unknowing, negation
- language barrierslanguage barrier, miscommunication, misunderstanding, untranslatable, confusion
unspeakablespeakable
Able to be said
expressible · utterable · articulable · communicable · describable
unspeakablewonderful
Extremely good, inspiring delight
good · beautiful · admirable · virtuous · praiseworthy
unspeakableconceivable
Able to be imagined
imaginable · thinkable · comprehensible · fathomable · graspable