Ineffable

Too great or extreme to be described in words; indescribable.

adjective

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Imagine This

Imagine witnessing a sunrise so breathtaking that every attempt to describe it falls short; the color, light, and feeling are real, yet language fails to capture it.

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Sounds Like

in-EF-uh-buhl

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Looks Like

IN + EFFABLE (the negation of 'effable', which means able to be expressed).

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Remember This

Ineffable describes experiences or phenomena that are beyond description. Its opposite is effable (able to be described).

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Other Forms

ineffabilitynoun

ineffablyadverb

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Connect With

indescribable, inexpressible, unutterable, beyond words; awe, wonder

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Note

Be careful not to confuse with words like inevitable or inefficient. Use ineffable for things that cannot be adequately expressed in words or spoken aloud.

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Study Deeper

Examples

The beauty of the aurora borealis was ineffable, leaving us in stunned silence.
His joy at becoming a parent was ineffable, something words could not capture.

Synonyms

indescribableinexpressibleunutterableunspeakablebeyond words

Antonyms

describableexpressible

Etymology

From Latin ineffābilis 'not able to be spoken', from in- 'not' + effārī 'to speak', with effable meaning 'able to be spoken'.

Mnemonic

Mnemonic: IN- + EFFABLE = not able to be spoken. Visualize a sign saying IN- on the word EFFABLE, signaling that this thing cannot be described in words.