Unintelligible: meaning, definitions and examples

Use when referring to speech or writing that cannot be understood because it is unclear or confusing.

• His handwriting was so messy that it was completely unintelligible.
• The announcement over the loudspeakers was unintelligible due to the noise.

Appropriate for describing something that is impossible to understand, often for complex, abstract, or sophisticated content.

• The technical jargon in the manual was incomprehensible to me.
• His explanation of quantum physics was simply incomprehensible.

Suitable for descriptions, messages, or remarks that are intentionally mysterious or obscure, often requiring effort to understand.

• She left a cryptic note on the table before disappearing.
• His cryptic comments left everyone wondering what he really meant.

Best used for descriptions of things that block light or are metaphorically difficult to understand because they are dense or unclear.

• The glass was frosted and completely opaque.
• The professor's lecture was fascinating but incredibly opaque.

Used when something cannot be understood at all due to unclear articulation or complexity. It often implies a complete lack of comprehension.

• His handwriting was so bad that it was almost unintelligible.
• The speaker's accent made the lecture unintelligible.

Ideal for describing something that is not clear or sharply defined, making it hard to distinguish one part from another. Often used for describing sounds and images.

• The photograph was blurry and indistinct.
• The voices were indistinct in the noisy room.

Best used when sound is quietened, softened, or stifled, often due to physical obstruction. It implies that sound is present but not clear.

• Through the thick walls, we heard muffled laughter.
• His voice was muffled by the blanket.

Appropriate when something is mixed up, distorted, or confused to the point that it is hard to understand. Often used in relation to communication and information.

• The email was garbled due to a technical glitch.
• His story was so garbled that I couldn't follow it.