Unrecognizable: meaning, definitions and examples
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unrecognizable
[ˌənˈrekəɡˌnīzəb(ə)l ]
Definition
incomprehensible
Not able to be identified or recognized; not recognizable.
Synonyms
incomprehensible, indiscernible, unfamiliar.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| unrecognizable |
When something has changed so much that it cannot be identified as what it previously was.
|
| incomprehensible |
Used when something is difficult or impossible to understand, often due to its complexity or lack of clarity.
|
| unfamiliar |
When encountering something not known or recognized from previous experience.
|
| indiscernible |
For situations where something is not clear or difficult to distinguish, particularly visually or audibly.
|
Examples of usage
- It was an unrecognizable language to me.
- The changes to the building were so drastic that it became unrecognizable to the original design.
- The passage of time had made his face unrecognizable to her.
- The handwriting was so messy that it was unrecognizable.
Interesting Facts
Etymology
- The word comes from the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not', combined with 'recognize', which comes from Latin roots 're-' meaning 'again' and 'cognoscere' meaning 'to know'.
- The roots show that the word literally means 'not able to be known again' or 'not able to be identified'.
Psychology
- Studies have shown that familiarity plays a crucial role in recognition; when something becomes unrecognizable, our brain struggles to match it with prior knowledge.
- Cognitive dissonance can occur when we encounter something unrecognizable, as it challenges our understanding of how we perceive the world.
Art
- Artists sometimes use techniques to make subjects unrecognizable, such as abstraction, to evoke new feelings and interpretations from viewers.
- In contemporary art, the unrecognizable can challenge societal norms, forcing us to rethink our assumptions about identity and representation.
Pop Culture
- In films, characters often undergo drastic transformations to become unrecognizable – for instance, an actor may change their appearance dramatically for a role.
- In disguise films or superhero stories, the theme of unrecognizability is common as it builds suspense and intrigue in the plot.
Science
- In biology, some species can become unrecognizable due to mutations or adaptations that help them survive in changing environments.
- Unrecognizability can also apply to data and information, where transformations in formatting or presentation can obscure the original meaning.
Translations
Translations of the word "unrecognizable" in other languages:
🇵🇹 irreconhecível
🇮🇳 पहचाना नहीं जा सकता
🇩🇪 unkenntlich
🇮🇩 tidak dikenali
🇺🇦 невпізнанний
🇵🇱 nierozpoznawalny
🇯🇵 認識できない (ninshiki dekinai)
🇫🇷 méconnaissable
🇪🇸 irreconocible
🇹🇷 tanınmaz
🇰🇷 알아볼 수 없는 (alabol su eobsneun)
🇸🇦 غير معروف
🇨🇿 nepoznatelný
🇸🇰 nepoznateľný
🇨🇳 无法识别的 (wúfǎ shíbié de)
🇸🇮 nerazpoznaven
🇮🇸 órkennanlegur
🇰🇿 танылмайтын
🇬🇪 უცნობი
🇦🇿 tanınmaz
🇲🇽 irreconocible