ineffable

IPA/ɪnˈefəbl/
KK[ˌɪnˈɛfəbəl]IPA/ɪnˈefəbl/

ineffable — adjective

  • ineffablepositive
  • more ineffablecomparative
  • most ineffablesuperlative

1. Something that is ineffable produces such a powerful feeling — often a very posi

1.形容詞B2
釋義

Something that is ineffable produces such a powerful feeling — often a very positive one like joy or beauty — that words cannot properly express it.

例句

As the choir sang, Ravindra felt an ineffable sense of peace wash over the hall.

collocation: ineffable sense of peace

The view from the mountain summit stirred an ineffable joy that left Jisoo completely silent.

同義詞
  • indescribable

    most common everyday synonym; slightly less formal

  • inexpressible

    focuses on inability to put feelings into words

  • unspeakable

    can overlap but more often implies shock or horror rather than awe

反義詞

文法句型

ineffable + noun

be + ineffable

用法筆記

Commonly paired with nouns for emotions (joy, peace, sadness, tenderness) or aesthetic qualities (beauty). Rare in everyday conversation; appears mostly in literary, descriptive, or reflective writing.

常見錯誤

❌The food was ineffable.
✅The food was so delicious that the experience felt ineffable.
💡Ineffable describes an experience beyond words, not simply 'extremely good'.

2. A name, word, or concept that is ineffable is so holy or forbidden that it is co

2.形容詞C2
釋義

A name, word, or concept that is ineffable is so holy or forbidden that it is considered wrong or dangerous to say it aloud.

例句

In many ancient traditions, a deity's true name was ineffable and never spoken aloud.

collocation: ineffable name

The rabbi explained that the Tetragrammaton is ineffable, so worshippers use Adonai instead during prayer.

同義詞
  • unutterable

    very close; can also mean 'too extreme to say'

  • taboo

    broader — covers actions and topics, not just words

  • forbidden

    wider in meaning; covers all kinds of prohibitions

反義詞

文法句型

ineffable + name / word / concept

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 refers specifically to a prohibition against speaking something sacred or taboo, while sense 1 describes an emotional inability to find words. Sense 2 is most common in religious, mythological, or occult contexts.

常見錯誤

❌They whispered the ineffable name.' (implying any secret name).
✅They refused to speak the ineffable name because it was sacred.
💡Ineffable in this sense implies a religious or taboo prohibition, not just secrecy.