indecipherable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "indecipherable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that cannot be understood or interpreted, such as text, speech, or symbols. Example: "The ancient manuscript was so faded that the writing was completely indecipherable."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The BBC is being inundated with complaints about all the indecipherable mumbling in its flagship drama Jamaica Inn.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Do not watch this video if your motives would upset me, my desires are unclear to you, or my nuances are indecipherable.

The Guardian

The campaign was as sparse as it was relentless, throwing up a din of indecipherable teasers and unlockable Twitter trailers.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

If markets currently believe that the American housing-finance bodies are "too big to fail" then the government needs to downsize them rather than become further entangled in and responsible for their increasingly indecipherable activities.A blueprint exists: the break up of AT&T and creation of the Baby Bells.

The Economist

Newt Gingrich's reminds me of one of those NASA probes that heads off for the outer edges of the solar system and is never heard from again, apart from the faint occasional peep of an indecipherable radio signal.

The Economist

THE footage is grainy, poorly lit and almost indecipherable.

The Economist

America's deficitAlan Greenspan abandoned his characteristic style of indecipherable comment to give a blunt warning about America's current-account deficit.

The Economist

TO MANY investors, hedge funds are impenetrable "black boxes", moving in mysterious ways and holding indecipherable positions.

The Economist

A single indecipherable signature on a stolen credit card, with no other proof of identity, will secure several hundred pounds' worth of goods without a second glance from most shop assistants.Last week a well-known writer was ticked off by her card issuer for breaching her credit limits.

The Economist

If a country wants to grant favours to one trading partner but not all, it has to write complex "rules of origin" to establish the nationality of a product.But in a dense network of production, every product is a mongrel, with an indecipherable pedigree.

The Economist

Indeed, in 1870 a Norwegian mathematician called Sophus Lie became a media sensation after being arrested outside Paris: found with a backpack filled with indecipherable mathematical notes, he was thought to be a spy.At times, even mathematicians have been suspicious of the "abstractions of abstractions of abstractions" of modern algebra.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing documents or handwriting, use "indecipherable" to emphasize the impossibility of reading or understanding the text due to its poor quality or complexity.

Common error

Avoid using "indecipherable" when something is simply difficult to understand. "Indecipherable" means it's truly impossible to decode or read, not just challenging.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "indecipherable" primarily functions to describe something that cannot be understood, decoded, or interpreted. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. Examples show its use in describing handwriting, codes, and abstract concepts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Encyclopedias

8%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adjective "indecipherable" is used to describe something impossible to understand or interpret, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's grammatically correct and commonly found in various contexts, particularly in news media and encyclopedias. When writing, use "indecipherable" to clearly convey that something cannot be decoded or read due to its inherent complexity or poor condition. Consider alternatives like "unintelligible" or "illegible" depending on the specific meaning you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unintelligible

Focuses on the inability to be understood due to lack of clarity.

incomprehensible

Highlights the lack of comprehension or understanding.

beyond comprehension

Emphasizes the limit of one's ability to understand something.

illegible

Specifically refers to writing that cannot be read.

unreadable

Similar to illegible, but can also apply to complex or poorly structured writing.

obscure

Implies that the meaning is hidden or not easily apparent.

impenetrable

Describes something that cannot be pierced or understood.

unfathomable

Suggests a depth of mystery that makes understanding impossible.

enigmatic

Refers to something mysterious and difficult to interpret.

cryptic

Suggests a hidden or coded meaning that requires special knowledge to understand.

FAQs

How to use "indecipherable" in a sentence?

Use "indecipherable" to describe something impossible to read or understand, as in, "The ancient text was completely "indecipherable"."

What can I say instead of "indecipherable"?

You can use alternatives like "unintelligible", "illegible", or "incomprehensible" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "indecipherable handwriting" or "illegible handwriting"?

"Illegible handwriting" is more common when referring to handwriting that's difficult to read. "Indecipherable handwriting" implies an even greater level of impossibility to read.

What's the difference between "indecipherable" and "obscure"?

"Indecipherable" means impossible to understand or decode. "Obscure" means not easily discovered or understood, implying that understanding is difficult but not necessarily impossible.