unrecognizable

adjective

un·​rec·​og·​niz·​able ˌən-ˈre-kəg-ˌnī-zə-bəl How to pronounce unrecognizable (audio)
-kig-
Synonyms of unrecognizablenext
: incapable of being identified or recognized : not recognizable
The beaches were unrecognizable after the hurricane.
He was unrecognizable without his mustache.
unrecognizableness noun
unrecognizably
ˌən-ˈre-kəg-ˌnī-zə-blē How to pronounce unrecognizable (audio)
-kig-
adverb
an unrecognizably altered landscape

Examples of unrecognizable in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But Angry Ale’s has tried to revamp without becoming unrecognizable. — Evan Moore august 28, Charlotte Observer, 28 Aug. 2026 Sesay described a man almost unrecognizable from the aggressive online personality familiar to millions of followers. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026 The film stars Alden Ehrenreich, Olivia Cooke, and an almost unrecognizable Helen Mirren. — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2026 Intrigued, Duleep took the unrecognizable diamond into his hand, holding it up to the light. — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unrecognizable

Word History

First Known Use

1817, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unrecognizable was in 1817

Rhymes for unrecognizable

See All Rhymes for unrecognizable

Browse Nearby Words

unrecognition
unrecognizable
unrecognized
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unrecognizable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unrecognizable. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on unrecognizable

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for unrecognizable

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All