inexplicable

CEFRC1

/ˌɪn.ɪkˈsplɪ.kə.bl̩/

adjective

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adjective

    Impossible to explain or understand.

  2. 02

    adjective

    Extra detail

    Something that is impossible to explain.

Examples

  • Poetry is a search for the inexplicable.

  • The disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle are inexplicable.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
3
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5
Synonyms
5

Also pronounced

  • /ɪnˈɛk.splɪ.kə.bəl/

Deep Dive

adjective

Extra meaning

  1. Impossible to explain; not easily accounted for.

More examples

In context

  • When anyone tries to explain the inexplicable, he is getting ready to excuse the inexcusable.

  • The year 1866 was signalised by a remarkable incident, a mysterious and inexplicable phenomenon, which doubtless no one has yet forgotten.

  • HEE [Cleanthes] left behind him (ſaith [Diogenes] Laertius) theſe excellent Books. […] Of Inexplicables.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The sudden disappearance of the airplane was blank and puzzled investigators for years.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

adjective

From Middle English inexplicable, from Middle French inexplicable, from Latin inexplicābilis, from in- (“not”) + explicābilis (“explicable”). By surface analysis, in- + explicable.