he will be unknowable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he will be unknowable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone whose thoughts, feelings, or true nature cannot be understood or comprehended. Example: "Despite his many accomplishments, he will be unknowable, leaving everyone to wonder about his true motivations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

But he will be unknowable.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

As veterans realize and almost every writer on the subject of war has reminded us, the experience of this new, unwanted war will be unknowable except among those who will be there for the fighting.

The New York Times

The reader is left with the sense of having intruded on someone's dream, in which symbols are revelations of intimate details. "Absolute reality is and always will be unknowable to us," Krohn wrote to me recently, in an e-mail.

The New Yorker

But if that is right, and if the letter/syllable relation models the element/ complex relation, then if any complex is knowable, its elements will be knowable too; and if any complex's elements are unknowable, then the complex will be unknowable too.

SEP

If Google doesn't know something it must be unknowable, I'll stop there before I sound like someone doing a Mock the Week audition tape routine about Donald Rumsfeld.

Vice

They cannot describe concrete steps to realize their companies' goals because the environment is too fluid and the capabilities they will require are unknowable.

Harvard Business Review

And in one central respect he's just like Mr. Taylor: He's unknowable.

The New York Times - Arts

Thus if the element is unknowable, the syllable must be unknowable too.

SEP

He is unknowable, both to others and to himself.

The New Yorker

A few weeks ago, Brian Williams of NBC News asked Romney if he was "unknowable to us".

The New York Times

In retirement however, as a TV pundit, he was unknowable, inoffensive, a little dull.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "he will be unknowable" when you want to suggest that someone's inner thoughts, feelings, or motivations are impossible to fully understand or predict. It often implies a sense of mystery or inscrutability.

Common error

Avoid using "unknowable" when you simply mean 'not yet known'. "Unknowable" suggests a fundamental impossibility of knowing, while "unknown" indicates a lack of current knowledge that could potentially be resolved.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he will be unknowable" functions as a predicate adjective phrase, describing a quality or state of the subject ('he'). It expresses an inherent limitation in the ability to fully understand the person, as supported by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he will be unknowable" is used to describe someone whose inner workings or true nature are fundamentally impossible to fully understand. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. The phrase is relatively rare, appearing mostly in news and media contexts. When employing this phrase, ensure that you intend to convey a sense of inherent mystery rather than a lack of current knowledge. Consider alternative phrasings such as "he will remain a mystery" or "he will be inscrutable" to fine-tune the nuance of your expression. The phrase's strength lies in its ability to highlight the limitations of human understanding when confronted with profound complexity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he will not be knowable

A direct synonym, emphasizing the lack of possibility of knowing.

he will remain a mystery

Focuses on the idea of being enigmatic and unsolved.

he will be inscrutable

Highlights the difficulty in interpreting someone's expressions or motives.

he will be an enigma

Emphasizes that the person is puzzling and difficult to understand.

his true nature will be hidden

Focuses on the concealment of someone's real character.

his motives will be unclear

Specifies that it's the reasons behind his actions that are obscure.

he will defy understanding

Implies a resistance to being comprehended.

he will be beyond comprehension

Highlights the impossibility of fully grasping someone's being.

he will be impossible to decipher

Focuses on the difficulty of interpreting his personality or actions.

he will be a closed book

Uses a metaphor to describe someone who is uncommunicative and hard to know.

FAQs

What does it mean to say someone "he will be unknowable"?

Saying that "he will be unknowable" suggests that understanding this person's true nature, thoughts, or motivations is fundamentally impossible or extremely difficult. It implies a deep level of mystery or inscrutability.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "he will be unknowable"?

This phrase is appropriate when describing a character or situation where complete understanding is unattainable. It often adds a layer of complexity and intrigue, hinting at hidden depths or inherent contradictions.

What are some alternatives to saying "he will be unknowable"?

You can use alternatives like "he will remain a mystery", "he will be inscrutable", or "he will be an enigma" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is there a difference between "he will be unknowable" and "he is unknown"?

"He is unknown" simply means that information about him is not currently available. "He will be unknowable", on the other hand, implies that understanding him is fundamentally impossible, regardless of the amount of information available.