unutterable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unutterable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is too great or extreme to be expressed in words. Example: "The grief she felt after the loss was unutterable, leaving her in a state of silence."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

The unutterable, ostentatious horror of Isis's actions – the latest of which is the beheading of the British aid worker David Haines – and the way in which it actively solicits disgust, now has to be reconciled with the knowledge that these combatants are educated, tech-savvy and enjoy a popular base.

The Guardian - Opinion

Abbott's stance on abortion, for instance – he has said that the current rate of abortion is "this generation's legacy of unutterable shame" and as health minister attempted to block access to RU486, the medical alternative to surgical abortion – has led to fears that as prime minister he would limit access to options and medical care.

The Guardian - Opinion

Retarded in America, and spastic in Britain, once respectable medical words, are now unutterable in polite company.

The Economist

Around the same time, London's Pall Mall Gazette detailed the lives of child prostitutes and greedy procuresses in a series billed as "abominable, unutterable, and worse than fables yet have feigned, or fear conceived".

The Economist

REGARDING that which he learns because of his profession, a doctor should "remain silent, holding such things to be unutterable".

The Economist

He conceals his identity, visiting escorts under an alias and hiding his "unutterable" first name from all but his ex-girlfriend.

The Economist

When he recounted that, there was an unutterable, old-uncle sadness born of experience in his eyes.

Independent

People who struggled on against the odds whilst the world looked on anxiously, but ultimately from a comfortable distance: and whom, when they each met a demise of unutterable cruelty, the world then mourned and for the most part gently forgot.

Independent

Beneath that statement appears just the one word, and it is a chilling and unanswerable one: "Unutterable".

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

The bluntest become legible in the heart of the city, a once-unutterable sentiment that has now become routine in one of the region's most authoritarian countries: "Rot in hell, Hafez," it intones, denouncing President Bashar al-Assad's father, Hafez, who seized control in 1970 and passed power to his son.

The New York Times

(Glandular Destruction, was it? Unutterable Evisceration, possibly?

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "unutterable" to describe experiences or emotions that are profoundly intense and difficult to articulate, creating a powerful impact on your reader.

Common error

Avoid using "unutterable" for commonplace situations. Reserve it for truly exceptional circumstances where the intensity warrants such a strong descriptor.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "unutterable" primarily functions to describe a noun, indicating that the quality or extent of something is so great that it cannot be adequately expressed or articulated. As Ludwig AI confirms, it denotes something beyond the capacity of speech.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unutterable" is an adjective used to describe something so profound or extreme that it cannot be adequately expressed in words. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and common usage, particularly in News & Media contexts. While versatile, it is best reserved for situations that genuinely warrant such a strong descriptor to avoid overuse. Alternatives such as "inexpressible" and "indescribable" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. By understanding its function, purpose, and register, writers can effectively employ "unutterable" to add depth and impact to their writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inexpressible

Focuses on the inability to convey something through expression.

indescribable

Highlights the difficulty in providing an adequate description.

unspeakable

Emphasizes the idea that something is too awful or extreme to be spoken about.

ineffable

Suggests that something is beyond the power of words to express, often with a mystical or spiritual connotation.

beyond words

A more common and informal way of saying something is difficult to express.

too great to express

Highlights the magnitude or intensity preventing expression.

beyond description

Implies that something surpasses the ability to be described adequately.

indefinable

Focuses on the impossibility of setting limits or boundaries to understanding something.

unnameable

Suggests that something is so terrible or sacred that it cannot be named.

beyond comprehension

Emphasizes that something exceeds the limits of understanding.

FAQs

How can I use "unutterable" in a sentence?

You can use "unutterable" to describe something that is too overwhelming or profound to be expressed in words. For instance, "The grief she felt was unutterable."

What are some alternatives to "unutterable"?

Alternatives include "inexpressible", "indescribable", and "unspeakable", each emphasizing the inability to convey something effectively.

Is "unutterable" the same as "unthinkable"?

"Unutterable" refers to something that cannot be expressed, while "unthinkable" refers to something that is impossible to conceive or imagine. They are not interchangeable.

When is it appropriate to use "unutterable" in writing?

Use "unutterable" when you want to convey a sense of something being beyond the scope of ordinary language, typically in contexts involving extreme emotions or profound experiences.