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Unrecognizable: meaning, definitions and examples

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unrecognizable

 

[ ˌənˈrekəɡˌnīzəb(ə)l ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

incomprehensible

Not able to be identified or recognized; not recognizable.

Synonyms

incomprehensible, indiscernible, unfamiliar.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
unrecognizable

When something has changed so much that it cannot be identified as what it previously was.

  • After the renovation, the old house was unrecognizable
  • His voice was so hoarse that it was almost unrecognizable
incomprehensible

Used when something is difficult or impossible to understand, often due to its complexity or lack of clarity.

  • The technical jargon in the manual was incomprehensible to me
  • Her explanation of the event was so convoluted that it became incomprehensible
unfamiliar

When encountering something not known or recognized from previous experience.

  • The new city was completely unfamiliar to her
  • The concept of quantum physics was unfamiliar to most of the students
indiscernible

For situations where something is not clear or difficult to distinguish, particularly visually or audibly.

  • The differences between the two twins were almost indiscernible
  • The details of the painting were indiscernible from a distance

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.

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

Etymology

The word 'unrecognizable' is a combination of the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' and the word 'recognizable', which is derived from the verb 'recognize'. The term first appeared in the English language in the mid-19th century, with the prefix 'un-' used to negate the meaning of 'recognizable'. Over time, 'unrecognizable' has become a commonly used adjective to describe something that cannot be identified or recognized.

See also: recognition, recognizable, recognize, recognized, recognizing, underrecognized.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #25,636, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.