Finesentence mobile logo
Sign in Login / Register

Incomprehensible Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

🤔
Add to dictionary

incomprehensible

[ˌɪnkɒmprɪˈhɛnsɪb(ə)l ]

Definition

Context #1 | Adjective

in conversation

Not able to be understood; confusing or unclear.

Synonyms

confusing, cryptic, unclear, unintelligible.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

arrow down
Word Description / Examples
incomprehensible

Used to describe something that cannot be understood due to complexity or lack of clarity.

  • The technical manual was incomprehensible to most people.
  • His speech was so fast it became incomprehensible.
unintelligible

Used to describe spoken or written words that cannot be understood, often due to poor communication.

  • Her handwriting was unintelligible.
  • The announcement was unintelligible due to the poor sound system.
confusing

Used when something is difficult to follow or makes someone feel uncertain.

  • The instructions on the package were very confusing.
  • The movie's plot was confusing and hard to keep up with.
unclear

Describes something that lacks clarity or is not well defined.

  • The directions he gave were unclear.
  • It's still unclear what caused the accident.
cryptic

Often used for messages or statements that are deliberately mysterious or obscure.

  • He left a cryptic note explaining his departure.
  • The professor's comment was cryptic and left the students puzzled.

Examples of usage

  • It was an incomprehensible speech that left the audience puzzled.
  • The instructions were so incomprehensible that I couldn't figure out how to assemble the furniture.
  • His handwriting is so messy that it's almost incomprehensible.
  • The complexity of the situation made it incomprehensible to the average person.
  • The technical jargon used in the report was incomprehensible to those without a background in the field.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Psychology

  • Cognitive overload occurs when information is presented in a way that makes it incomprehensible, leading to frustration.
  • Research shows that people are more likely to understand information when it's presented clearly and simply, rather than in complex jargon.
  • Incomprehensibility can impact learning negatively, causing anxiety and reducing retention of information.

Literature

  • Many modernist writers embraced incomprehensibility as a literary device to challenge readers and question traditional meanings.
  • James Joyce's 'Finnegans Wake' is often cited as a quintessential example of incomprehensible literature, filled with obscure references and convoluted syntax.
  • Postmodern literature often plays with the idea that some truths can be incomprehensible, reflecting the chaos of modern life.

Technology

  • In the realm of computer science, incomprehensible programming code can lead to bugs and issues that are hard to debug.
  • Artificial intelligence systems sometimes produce incomprehensible outputs, leading developers to improve transparency and explainability.
  • Data visualization is a method used to make incomprehensible statistics understandable by presenting them in visual formats.

Pop Culture

  • Many comedians poke fun at the incomprehensibility of modern technology, creating humor from how complicated it can be.
  • Several movies and shows have portrayed characters who struggle with incomprehensible texts, often leading to hilarious or absurd situations.
  • The song 'I’m Still Alive' by Pearl Jam touches on feelings of incomprehensibility in life's challenges, resonating with listeners on a deep emotional level.

Origin of 'incomprehensible'

Main points about word origin

  • The word comes from Latin roots: 'in-' meaning 'not' and 'comprehensibilis' meaning 'able to be understood'.
  • It entered the English language in the early 16th century, originally used to describe complex ideas or texts.
  • The prefix 'in-' is often used in English to indicate negation, similar to words like 'invisible' or 'incomplete'.

The word 'incomprehensible' originated from the Latin word 'incomprehensibilis', which is a combination of 'in-' (not) and 'comprehendere' (to understand). It first appeared in the English language in the early 15th century. Over time, 'incomprehensible' has been used to describe things that are difficult to understand or make sense of, leading to its current meaning.

See also: comprehend, comprehended, comprehending, comprehendingly, comprehensibility, comprehensible, comprehension, comprehensive, comprehensiveness, incomprehensibility, incomprehensibly.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #13,172, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.