ineffable

[ in-ef-uh-buhl ]

adjective

1. incapable of being expressed or described in words; inexpressible:

   ineffable joy.

2. not to be spoken because of its sacredness; unutterable:

   the ineffable name of the deity.

   Synonyms: unspeakable

ineffable

/ ɪnˈɛfəbəl /

adjective

1. too great or intense to be expressed in words; unutterable
2. too sacred to be uttered
3. indescribable; indefinable

Derived Forms

• inˌeffaˈbility, noun
• inˈeffably, adverb

Other Words From

• in·effa·bili·ty in·effa·ble·ness noun
• in·effa·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of ineffable¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English word from Latin word ineffābilis. See in- ³, effable

Word History and Origins

Origin of ineffable¹

C15: from Latin ineffābilis unutterable, from in- ¹+ effābilis, from effārī to utter, from fārī to speak

Example Sentences

Unlike something ineffable — such as a person’s place of birth, race, sex or gender — political ideology is a choice.

From Salon

And it imbues the foodstuffs, home goods, clothes, paraphernalia and tchotchkes that hail from here with a sort of unquantifiable, ineffable, sun-kissed, surf-adjacent vibe that wraps around you like a cartoon bear hug.

From Los Angeles Times

Their soundscapes conjure vision and feeling, as well as that ineffable thing sometimes called vibe.

From New York Times

That’s the setup to “Evil Does Not Exist,” but it hardly conveys the ineffable unease rippling through the film.

From Los Angeles Times

The mood was somehow both menacing and playful, its meaning ineffable and the overall effect entirely singular.

From New York Times

Related Words

• ethereal
• heavenly
• indescribable
• transcendent
• unspeakable