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Indiscernible: meaning, definitions and examples

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indiscernible

 

[ ˌɪndɪˈsɜːnəbl ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

difficult to perceive or distinguish

Not able to be seen, heard, or understood clearly, usually because of being very similar to something else.

Synonyms

faint, imperceptible, indistinguishable, undetectable, unnoticeable.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
indiscernible

Use when something cannot be seen or understood, often because it is too small or unclear. Generally formal.

  • The text was indiscernible without a magnifying glass
  • His motives were indiscernible to us
unnoticeable

Suitable for describing something that is not easily noticed, often overlooked. Commonly used in casual language.

  • The stain on his shirt was unnoticeable at first glance
  • She managed to slip out of the room in an unnoticeable manner
indistinguishable

Suitable for describing things that are so similar that they cannot be differentiated from one another.

  • The twins are almost indistinguishable from each other
  • The fake painting was indistinguishable from the original
imperceptible

Used for something that is so slight or small that it is almost impossible to notice. Generally formal.

  • The change in his expression was almost imperceptible
  • The difference in color was imperceptible to the human eye
undetectable

Used when something cannot be detected by means or senses available. Often used in scientific or medical contexts.

  • The virus was undetectable in the blood sample
  • Her excitement was almost undetectable
faint

Suitable for describing something that is barely perceptible, such as light, sound, or smell. Commonly used in everyday language.

  • She heard a faint knock at the door
  • There was a faint smell of roses in the room

Examples of usage

  • It was an indiscernible figure in the distance.
  • The difference between the two options was almost indiscernible.
  • His words were indiscernible over the loud music.
  • The fine print on the contract was virtually indiscernible.
  • The details of the painting were indiscernible without a magnifying glass.

Translations

Translations of the word "indiscernible" in other languages:

🇵🇹 indiscernível

🇮🇳 अस्पष्ट

🇩🇪 ununterscheidbar

🇮🇩 tak bisa dibedakan

🇺🇦 невловимий

🇵🇱 niedostrzegalny

🇯🇵 識別できない (shikibetsu dekinai)

🇫🇷 indiscernable

🇪🇸 indiscernible

🇹🇷 ayırt edilemez

🇰🇷 식별할 수 없는 (sikbyeolhal su eomneun)

🇸🇦 غير واضح

🇨🇿 nerozeznatelný

🇸🇰 nerozoznateľný

🇨🇳 难以辨别的 (nányǐ biànbié de)

🇸🇮 nerazpoznavni

🇮🇸 ójákennilegt

🇰🇿 ажыратылмайтын

🇬🇪 გაურკვეველი

🇦🇿 ayırd edilə bilməyən

🇲🇽 indiscernible

Etymology

The word 'indiscernible' originated from the Latin word 'indiscernibilis', which is a combination of the prefix 'in-' meaning 'not' and 'discernibilis' meaning 'discernible'. The term has been used in English since the 17th century to describe something that is difficult or impossible to perceive or distinguish. Over time, 'indiscernible' has become a commonly used adjective in various contexts to convey the idea of something being unclear or unrecognizable.

See also: discern, discernible, discernibly, discerning, discerningly, discernment.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #34,635 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.