unspeakable
unspeakable
Pronunciation
IPA Phonetic Spelling: /ʌnˈspiːkəbl/
Syllable Breakdown:
un: /ʌn/
/ʌ/ - schwa
/n/ - nasal /n/
speak: /spiːk/
/s/ - voiceless alveolar fricative
/p/ - voiceless bilabial stop
/iː/ - long close front vowel
/k/ - voiceless velar stop
able: /əbl/
/ə/ - schwa
/b/ - voiced bilabial stop
/l/ - voiced alveolar lateral liquid
Word Form Variations
unspeakable is already in its singular form. It does not have a plural form.
There are no other word form variations for "unspeakable" in English.
Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Adjective
Definition: Impossible to express or describe, often due to the nature of the thing being referred to.
Synonyms: Indescribable, unimaginable, unthinkable, unutterable, inexpressible
Antonyms: Speakable, describable, imaginable, thinkable, utterable
Noun
Definition: Something that is impossible to express or describe.
Synonyms: Atrocity, horror, abomination, outrage, monstrosity
Antonyms: Speakable, describable, imaginable, thinkable, utterable
Verb
Definition: To make something impossible to express or describe.
Synonyms: Silence, suppress, conceal, hush up, whitewash
Antonyms: Reveal, disclose, express, utter, articulate
Examples of Use
Books
"The unspeakable horror of the Holocaust." (The Diary of a Young Girl, Anne Frank)
"The unspeakable cruelty of war." (All Quiet on the Western Front, Erich Maria Remarque)
Newspapers
"The unspeakable tragedy of the mass shooting." (The New York Times)
"The unspeakable act of violence against innocent civilians." (The Guardian)
Online Publications
"The unspeakable truth about climate change." (The Atlantic)
"The unspeakable pain of losing a loved one." (BuzzFeed)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms
"The unspeakable evil lurking in the shadows." (A horror movie)
"The unspeakable acts committed by the villain." (A video game)
"The unspeakable love between the two characters." (A romance novel)
General Public Discourse
"The unspeakable sadness of losing a child." (A parent speaking at a memorial)
"The unspeakable injustice of racism." (A social justice activist)
"The unspeakable beauty of the natural world." (A nature lover)
10 Famous Quotes Using the term Unspeakable
"There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you."
— Maya Angelou"The unspeakable in pursuit of the uneatable!"
— Oscar Wilde (on fox hunting)"In times of great stress or adversity, it's always best to keep busy, to plow your anger and your energy into something positive."
— Lee Iacocca"It is often in the darkest skies that we see the brightest stars."
— Richard Evans"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
— Edmund Burke"There are no words to express the abyss between isolation and having one ally."
— Ayn Rand"History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people."
— Martin Luther King Jr."I have seen the best of you, and the worst of you, and I choose both."
— Sarah Kay"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
— Martin Luther King Jr."The Holocaust was an unspeakable crime against humanity."
— Kofi Annan
Etymology
Unspeakable is a combination of two words: "un" and "speakable."
"Un" is a prefix that means "not."
"Speakable" means "able to be spoken."
So, when you put them together, "unspeakable" means "not able to be spoken."
The word "unspeakable" has been used for a very long time. It's been around since the 1400s, and it has always meant something that is too terrible or shocking to talk about.
Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Unspeakable
Similar Phrases
Beyond words: This phrase suggests something is so powerful or emotional that it cannot be adequately expressed through language.
Inconceivable: This word implies something is so unbelievable or extraordinary that it's hard to imagine.
Indescribable: This adjective suggests something is so unique or complex that it cannot be accurately described.
Idioms with Synonyms
Unholy mess: This idiom refers to a chaotic or disastrous situation.
Horrendous spectacle: This phrase suggests something is shocking or appalling to behold.
Abysmal depths: This idiom implies something is extremely bad or terrible.
Note: While there may not be direct phrases or idioms using "unspeakable," these alternatives effectively convey the same sense of something that is extremely difficult to express or understand.
Posts Related to Unspeakable
Source Information
Definition of unspeakable from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.