illegible Hear it!

illegible Definition

il·leg·ible (i lejə bəl)

adjective

very difficult or impossible to read because badly written or printed, faded, etc.

Etymology: < in- + legible

illegible Related Forms

il·leg′·ibil·ity noun il·leg·ibly adverb

illegible Synonyms

illegible

modif.

unreadable, indecipherable, unintelligible, faint, obscured, difficult to read, scribbled, scrawled, crabbed, hieroglyphic; see also confused 2, obscure 1.

illegible Usage Examples

Preposition: in

part: The copy was illegible in parts and the first column was cut off; Laura's original was the same.

Adjective complement with noun phrase

make: Reducing A4 to A5 often makes the text illegible.

Modifies a noun

  • handwriting: Through out my education I had many problems, from not being able to read fast enough to having illegible handwriting.
  • scrawl: Please try to resist the temptation to scribble them in illegible scrawl.
  • inscription: Mounted on the wall a white memorial slab with an illegible inscription.
  • signature: I am the smudged illegible signature on Jack's invalid donor card.
  • script: A list of names and dwelling places on paper and in almost illegible script.
  • entry: For the rest of 1555 there are a further 19 illegible entries.

Modifying Another Word

  • almost: The inscription at the top is now almost illegible.
  • partly: The alteration in the first letter may be due to the original document being partly illegible.
  • virtually: There are several problems which you may encounter: § Poor quality microfiche - some of the fiche are virtually illegible.
  • totally: They get so many requests for an autograph, they end writing something totally illegible.
  • completely: It seems to have carried an inscription which is almost completely illegible.
  • largely: Unfortunately, tho, the process of carbonization which preserved them has also rendered them, till now, largely illegible.

Used with adjective complement

  • become: Some of the letters are fading, indeed some have become illegible.
  • make: All empty containers removed or markings removed or made illegible?
  • render: The Council cannot be held responsible for entries lost, delayed or rendered illegible.