unmentionable

1 of 2

adjective

un·​men·​tion·​able ˌən-ˈmen(t)-sh(ə-)nə-bəl How to pronounce unmentionable (audio)
: not fit or allowed to be mentioned or discussed : unspeakable
an unmentionable topic

unmentionable

2 of 2

noun

: one that is not to be mentioned or discussed: such as
b
unmentionables plural : underwear

Examples of unmentionable in a Sentence

Adjective There are certain topics that are considered to be unmentionable.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
There exists a dangerous chilling trend in education whereby many subjects have become effectively unmentionable. Chris Doyle, Hartford Courant, 4 Jan. 2024 With minimal means, Jacquot evokes a society of narrow norms, in which privilege (as of rank, wealth, and gender) left vast margins for their violation, and in which depredations are rendered unmentionable and therefore unacknowledged and unredressed. Richard Brod, The New Yorker, 14 July 2021 Mental illness was simply unmentionable. The Salt Lake Tribune, 6 Oct. 2021 Her continued focus on class, the great American unmentionable, made Ms. Tax a distinct voice. Penelope Green, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2022 And as these details were either boring or unmentionable (as in your case and mine), their interest was gratified by fantasies. David Mamet, National Review, 31 Mar. 2022 There were no further updates, so the unmentionable crime wave appeared to have been thwarted. David Reamer, Anchorage Daily News, 6 Feb. 2022 Anything unconventional or exotic is discomfiting, maybe unseemly, confusing, and (most crucially) unmentionable. Gemma Sieff, Harper’s Magazine , 4 Jan. 2022 Suffice it to say that the movie’s richness of drama and texture enables the thematic essence and emotional power of its unmentionable twists to run through the film in its entirety, energizing even less surprising but no less affecting details. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 27 Dec. 2021
Noun
Embracing these unmentionables as a part of our daily wardrobe is a skill worth mastering. Devine Blacksher, Essence, 9 Jan. 2024 Erika, on the other hand, noted that the other housewives at the party had been engaged in similar topics and Denise, herself, had bragged about the size of her husband's unmentionables. Esther Kang, Peoplemag, 4 Jan. 2024 But just for future reference, Mahomes — they’re called unmentionables for a reason. Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 14 Nov. 2023 These three apartments offer renters the coveted ability to wash their unmentionables without scrounging for quarters or passive-aggressively trading notes about neighbors in a communal laundry room. Shannon Rooney, Philly.com, 11 July 2018 Perfect sized to hide unsightly rolls of toilet paper or any other unmentionables. The Editors At House Beautiful, House Beautiful, 18 Nov. 2013 Watch for all the celeb appearances, stay for Kendall’s NSFW cameo, featuring her rapping about her unmentionables, at the end. Grace Gavilanes, PEOPLE.com, 15 Mar. 2018 This novel presentation unveils myths about women's unmentionables. Lake County News-Sun, 16 Jan. 2018 Made in the shade Stave off wrinkles and other unmentionables by taking a break from the sun and getting a spray-tan instead. Kai Oliver-Kurtin, Pacific San Diego Magazine, 2 June 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unmentionable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1657, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1791, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unmentionable was in 1657

Dictionary Entries Near unmentionable

Cite this Entry

“Unmentionable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unmentionable. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

unmentionable

adjective
un·​men·​tion·​able
ˌən-ˈmench-(ə-)nə-bəl,
ˈən-
: not fit or proper to be talked about
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