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indecipherable

indecipherable

8 8.8
Too hard to read or understand
  • adjective
  • /ˌɪndɪˈsaɪfərəbəl/
translation icon : indecifrable
  • The ancient script was indecipherable to all but the most skilled linguists.
  • almost indecipherable
  • arcane and indecipherable

That's indecipherable to most of us, right.

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Examples

  • The public was not prepared for Sitwell's complex and sometimes indecipherable verse.

    Academic text (2000)
  • " She read the letter, which to me had been indecipherable.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • It's indecipherable to people without a law degree.

  • Even the portions that seem almost indecipherable, we're going to dig into them and make sense of them.

  • The data on each ring is indecipherable on its own... ...but when they are read together, their codes unlock each other.

  • Her facial expression is indecipherable, lost to the shadows around her.

    Academic text (1993)
  • Indecipherable radio emissions from outer space.

  • I looked at the photostat of the original, which was ripped in places and totally indecipherable to me.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • To English language readers, these pictograms appear indecipherable, but are perfectly readable upon closer inspection.

  • His mother's voice was muted, an indecipherable questioning tone muffled by walls and darkness.

    Fiction book (2002)

Synonyms

unintelligible
vsindecipherable
8.6

Not clear enough to understand

adds that difficulty can apply to reading or decoding written material
indistinct
vsindecipherable
328 5.3

Not easy to see, hear, or understand

focuses more on being unreadable or impossible to interpret, not just blurred
confusing
vsindecipherable
276 3.2

Hard to understand and makes people feel unsure

refers to absolute inability to read or interpret rather than only causing confusion
unclear
vsindecipherable
207 3.9

Not easy to understand or know for sure

signals a near or total incomprehension rather than simply vague wording
incomprehensible
vsindecipherable
46 8.8

Difficult or impossible to understand

includes difficulty of reading and interpreting written material as well
unreadable
vsindecipherable
14 4.1

Hard or impossible to read

extends beyond text to include any hard to interpret sounds or signals
impenetrable
vsindecipherable
14 8.3

Very hard to understand

covers both unreadable text and things that are hard to interpret generally
inscrutable
vsindecipherable
12 8.9

Hard to understand because it shows no clear meaning or feeling

is used for lack of clarity without implying mystery or secrecy
hard to follow
vsindecipherable
9 6.4

Difficult to understand

implies a stronger, often complete inability to read or grasp meaning
illegible
vsindecipherable
8 5.5

Hard to read because the writing is messy or the print is faded

also covers nonvisual interpretation problems, not only poor penmanship
indiscernible
vsindecipherable
4 8.8

Hard to see, hear, or notice

also covers failure to understand written or symbolic meanings, not only perception
undecipherable
vsindecipherable
1 9.1

Very hard to read or understand

is broader, applying also to nonwritten meaning and general interpretation
barely legible
vsindecipherable
1 7.1

Very hard to read so you can only understand a little

can also mean a total inability to read or to interpret meaning
uninterpretable
vsindecipherable
1 8.2

Not possible to understand or explain

is used when reading or decoding written signs is difficult
ungraspable
vsindecipherable
1 8.6

Difficult to understand even after thinking about it

also includes cases where reading or interpreting symbols is impossible
inapprehensible
vsindecipherable
9.9

Hard to understand or explain

is the same meaning expressed in a different word form
uncomprehensible
vsindecipherable
  • Informal
9.9

Very hard to understand

is the standard form used in most writing rather than the variant
incognoscible
vsindecipherable
  • Archaic
9.9

Not possible for people to know or understand

includes both inability to read signs and to interpret meanings
incognizable
vsindecipherable
  • Formal
9.9

Not possible for people to know or understand

also covers difficulty in reading or decoding written symbols
unscannable
vsindecipherable
8.4

Difficult to read from a person's face or behavior

applies more widely to reading, decoding, or making sense of text and signs

Antonyms

1 3.7

Easy to read or understand

How Decipherable

clear
1.0
legible
11 3.1
indecipherable
8 8.8

Surface Forms

indecipherable positive

Morphology

indecipherable = decipherable (transparent) = in + de + cipher + able

The negative prefix 'in-' straightforwardly gives the meaning 'not decipherable'.

Etymology

Indecipherable breaks into parts: in- meaning 'not', decipher meaning 'to solve or read a code' and -able meaning 'able to'. So, indecipherable means 'not able to be read or understood'.