Meaning, in detail
Something ineffable cannot adequately be expressed in words. It may be an intense feeling, a beauty or an experience for which a description seems insufficient.
The adjective does not necessarily mean pleasant. Joy and sorrow can both be ineffable. In religious usage, it can also describe something whose name must not be spoken, which is a different shade of meaning.
Pronunciation
in-EF-uh-buhl
IPA transcription or a simplified reading guide. Pronunciation can vary with accent.Where does it come from?
Latin ineffabilis combines a negative element with a word for what can be spoken or expressed. Its history points to the limits of saying something aloud.
Use it in a sentence
The reunion brought an ineffable sense of relief.
He tried to describe the loss, but the sadness felt ineffable.Original examples written for Puzzoria.
Did you know?
A word associated with wonderful experiences can describe terrible ones too. Its central idea is a failure of expression, not a particular emotion.