Illegible
adjective
Not clear enough to be read.
His handwriting was almost illegible.
Often appears as...
- almost illegible
- completely illegible
adjective
Not clear enough to be read.
His handwriting was almost illegible.
Often appears as...
- almost illegible
- completely illegible
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Handwriting Context
Often used to describe poor handwriting that's hard to interpret.
The note was so rushed, it was completely illegible.
Pro Tip 2/3Print Material
Use it when print is unclear due to fading, smudging or poor quality.
The old book's print has become illegible over time.
Pro Tip 3/3Digital Texts
Applies to text in digital form too, like blurry or pixelated images of text.
The scanned copy is illegible on my screen.
Pro Tip 1/3Handwriting Context
Often used to describe poor handwriting that's hard to interpret.
The note was so rushed, it was completely illegible.
Pro Tip 2/3Print Material
Use it when print is unclear due to fading, smudging or poor quality.
The old book's print has become illegible over time.
Pro Tip 3/3Digital Texts
Applies to text in digital form too, like blurry or pixelated images of text.
The scanned copy is illegible on my screen.
Pro Tip 1/3Handwriting Context
Often used to describe poor handwriting that's hard to interpret.
The note was so rushed, it was completely illegible.
Pro Tip 2/3Print Material
Use it when print is unclear due to fading, smudging or poor quality.
The old book's print has become illegible over time.
Pro Tip 3/3Digital Texts
Applies to text in digital form too, like blurry or pixelated images of text.
The scanned copy is illegible on my screen.
Compare with
ambiguouscomprehensibleconfuseillicitindecipherableinscrutableintelligibleobscure
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Video examples
How I'm discovering the...
that this large, nearly seven-foot map, made the world look like a giant desert. Until now, we had very little idea, detailed idea, that is, of what Columbus knew of the world and how world cultures were represented. The main legend of the map was entirely illegible under normal light.
Video examples
The Messiah Before...
seeing in three days rise is illegible I don't see those letters there and by the way neither does anyone else some scholars believe that the mystery word can be read not as rise or live but as raise us up he will raise us up is a common ancient Hebrew phrase meaning
Video examples
How algorithms shape our...
that's the thing right is is that we're writing things we're writing these things that we can no longer read and it's we've we've rendered something kind of illegible and we've lost the sense of what's actually happening in this world
Video examples
How I'm discovering the...
that this large, nearly seven-foot map, made the world look like a giant desert. Until now, we had very little idea, detailed idea, that is, of what Columbus knew of the world and how world cultures were represented. The main legend of the map was entirely illegible under normal light.
Video examples
The Messiah Before...
seeing in three days rise is illegible I don't see those letters there and by the way neither does anyone else some scholars believe that the mystery word can be read not as rise or live but as raise us up he will raise us up is a common ancient Hebrew phrase meaning
Video examples
How algorithms shape our...
that's the thing right is is that we're writing things we're writing these things that we can no longer read and it's we've we've rendered something kind of illegible and we've lost the sense of what's actually happening in this world
Example 1 of 3
Quote examples
Whit Stillman
American Director
I can fake decent penmanship, but generally, it's really just terrible. And, unfortunately for me, maybe fortunately for the reader, it's very often illegible. If I get an idea, and if I do remember to write it down, which is rare, I write in such a way that I can't read a letter.
Quote examples
Russell Smith
Canadian Novelist
Possibly the strangest book ever made, the 'Codex Seraphinianus' is an encyclopedia of an imaginary world, with illegible calligraphy - it is written in an alphabet no one can understand - and surreal drawings of odd beasts and machines.
Quote examples
Paul Auster
American Author
I write the paragraph, then I'm crossing out, changing words, trying to improve it. When it seems more or less OK, then I type it up because sometimes it's almost illegible, and if I wait, I might not be able to read it the next day.
Quote examples
Anthony Minghella
British Director
I work fitfully, in hope rather than in expectation, invent methods which last a week, and fill notebooks with tiny, illegible writing which often defies my own attempts to decipher it.
Quote examples
Shiloh Walker
American Author
I still have a lot of the stories I wrote in high school. Hand wrote... a number of them are in purple ink, rendering them illegible, a fact we should probably be forever thankful for.
Quote examples
Greg Boyle
American Clergyman
Children find themselves adrift not because the informational signposts are illegible, but because there is no one around to guide and accompany them.
Quote examples
Whit Stillman
American Director
I can fake decent penmanship, but generally, it's really just terrible. And, unfortunately for me, maybe fortunately for the reader, it's very often illegible. If I get an idea, and if I do remember to write it down, which is rare, I write in such a way that I can't read a letter.
Quote examples
Russell Smith
Canadian Novelist
Possibly the strangest book ever made, the 'Codex Seraphinianus' is an encyclopedia of an imaginary world, with illegible calligraphy - it is written in an alphabet no one can understand - and surreal drawings of odd beasts and machines.
Quote examples
Paul Auster
American Author
I write the paragraph, then I'm crossing out, changing words, trying to improve it. When it seems more or less OK, then I type it up because sometimes it's almost illegible, and if I wait, I might not be able to read it the next day.
Quote examples
Anthony Minghella
British Director
I work fitfully, in hope rather than in expectation, invent methods which last a week, and fill notebooks with tiny, illegible writing which often defies my own attempts to decipher it.
Quote examples
Shiloh Walker
American Author
I still have a lot of the stories I wrote in high school. Hand wrote... a number of them are in purple ink, rendering them illegible, a fact we should probably be forever thankful for.
Quote examples
Greg Boyle
American Clergyman
Children find themselves adrift not because the informational signposts are illegible, but because there is no one around to guide and accompany them.
Example 1 of 6
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