Unmentionable
adjective
Something too embarrassing, shocking, or offensive to be talked about or mentioned.
She found herself thinking of things unmentionable.
Often appears as...
- unmentionable topic
- unmentionable things
noun
An unmentionable piece of clothing is underwear.
In the 19th century, even the word 'trousers' was considered unmentionable in polite society.
Often appears as...
- wearing unmentionables
- clean unmentionables
Usage tips
Historical, Colloquial
adjective
Something too embarrassing, shocking, or offensive to be talked about or mentioned.
She found herself thinking of things unmentionable.
Often appears as...
- unmentionable topic
- unmentionable things
noun
An unmentionable piece of clothing is underwear.
In the 19th century, even the word 'trousers' was considered unmentionable in polite society.
Often appears as...
- wearing unmentionables
- clean unmentionables
Usage tips
Historical, Colloquial
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Sensitive Subjects
Use 'unmentionable' to refer to topics usually avoided in polite conversation.
He avoided the unmentionable details of the scandal.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Awareness
What's considered 'unmentionable' can differ across cultures; be mindful of this.
In some cultures, discussing one's income is unmentionable.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotional Impact
Be aware 'unmentionable' may indicate a topic is not just taboo, but painful to discuss.
The tragedy was unmentionable for her, even years later.
Pro Tip 1/3Sensitive Subjects
Use 'unmentionable' to refer to topics usually avoided in polite conversation.
He avoided the unmentionable details of the scandal.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Awareness
What's considered 'unmentionable' can differ across cultures; be mindful of this.
In some cultures, discussing one's income is unmentionable.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotional Impact
Be aware 'unmentionable' may indicate a topic is not just taboo, but painful to discuss.
The tragedy was unmentionable for her, even years later.
Pro Tip 1/3Sensitive Subjects
Use 'unmentionable' to refer to topics usually avoided in polite conversation.
He avoided the unmentionable details of the scandal.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Awareness
What's considered 'unmentionable' can differ across cultures; be mindful of this.
In some cultures, discussing one's income is unmentionable.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotional Impact
Be aware 'unmentionable' may indicate a topic is not just taboo, but painful to discuss.
The tragedy was unmentionable for her, even years later.
Compare with
forbidindecentindescribableineffableinexpressibleprohibitorytaboounspeakable
Never forget "Unmentionable"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 322 PIPE...
appreciate the true beauty of the grass genre is a cameraman therefore he has an eye for these things and that was pretty much all that you missed oh and that grass can hide all sorts of things leopards included and myself and most likely the tick that's probably as we speak making its way towards somewhere unmentionable upon me because now I've
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 322 PIPE...
appreciate the true beauty of the grass genre is a cameraman therefore he has an eye for these things and that was pretty much all that you missed oh and that grass can hide all sorts of things leopards included and myself and most likely the tick that's probably as we speak making its way towards somewhere unmentionable upon me because now I've
Example 1 of 1
Quote examples
David Bowie
English Musician
Searching for music is like searching for God. They're very similar. There's an effort to reclaim the unmentionable, the unsayable, the unseeable, the unspeakable, all those things, comes into being a composer and to writing music and to searching for notes and pieces of musical information that don't exist.
Quote examples
David Bowie
English Musician
There's an effort to reclaim the unmentionable, the unsayable, the unspeakable, all those things come into being a composer, into writing music, into searching for notes and pieces of musical information that don't exist.
Quote examples
Bjornstjerne Bjornson
Norwegian Writer
The greater the burden a man takes upon his shoulders, the stronger he must be to carry it. No words are unmentionable, no action or horror beyond powers of description, if one is equal to them.
Quote examples
Christopher Hitchens
American Author
The secular argument, or the liberal argument, is to as much as possible remove taboos so things do not become unmentionable; to let some air into the discussion.
Quote examples
Frank Rich
American Journalist
Nationalization, unmentionable only yesterday, has entered common usage not least because an even scarier word - depression - is next on America's list to avoid.
Quote examples
Johnny Vegas
British Comedian
We had a week off in the middle of shooting, but as soon as everyone stopped, we all went down with six different types of flu and other unmentionable diseases.
Quote examples
David Bowie
English Musician
Searching for music is like searching for God. They're very similar. There's an effort to reclaim the unmentionable, the unsayable, the unseeable, the unspeakable, all those things, comes into being a composer and to writing music and to searching for notes and pieces of musical information that don't exist.
Quote examples
David Bowie
English Musician
There's an effort to reclaim the unmentionable, the unsayable, the unspeakable, all those things come into being a composer, into writing music, into searching for notes and pieces of musical information that don't exist.
Quote examples
Bjornstjerne Bjornson
Norwegian Writer
The greater the burden a man takes upon his shoulders, the stronger he must be to carry it. No words are unmentionable, no action or horror beyond powers of description, if one is equal to them.
Quote examples
Christopher Hitchens
American Author
The secular argument, or the liberal argument, is to as much as possible remove taboos so things do not become unmentionable; to let some air into the discussion.
Quote examples
Frank Rich
American Journalist
Nationalization, unmentionable only yesterday, has entered common usage not least because an even scarier word - depression - is next on America's list to avoid.
Quote examples
Johnny Vegas
British Comedian
We had a week off in the middle of shooting, but as soon as everyone stopped, we all went down with six different types of flu and other unmentionable diseases.
Example 1 of 6
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension