unmentionable

/ʌn'menʃnəbl/

Thân thiện

She carefully folded the unmentionable and placed it in the drawer.

Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Not suitable or allowed to be discussed: Describes something considered too embarrassing, offensive, or socially inappropriate to be talked about openly.
   • Too shocking or indecent to be named: Refers to things considered taboo or improper to mention in polite conversation.

2. Noun:

   • An undergarment: A piece of clothing, such as underwear, worn beneath outer garments. This usage is often humorous or euphemistic.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The scandal involved unmentionable acts that shocked the community.
  • In Victorian society, certain topics were considered unmentionable in mixed company.
• Noun:
  • She packed her unmentionables in a separate suitcase. (Here, "unmentionables" is a euphemism for undergarments.)

Advanced Usage

• The unmentionable: Used as a noun phrase to refer abstractly to a subject that is taboo.
  • He finally dared to speak the unmentionable at the board meeting.
• Socially unmentionable: Emphasizes the social taboo aspect.
  • Bankruptcy was a socially unmentionable topic for the family.

Variants and Related Words

• Unmentionables (plural noun): A dated or humorous term for undergarments.
  • The store had a section for ladies' unmentionables.

Synonyms

• Adjective: Taboo, unspeakable, ineffable, indescribable, forbidden.
• Noun (for garment): Undergarment, underclothing, intimate apparel.

Antonyms

• Adjective: Mentionable, discussable, acceptable, permissible.

Related Idioms/Phrases

• Beyond the pale: While not containing the word, this idiom relates to the concept of being socially unacceptable or unmentionable.
  • His behavior was considered beyond the pale and utterly unmentionable.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. unsuitable or forbidden as a topic of conversation
   • unmentionable words

Noun

1. a garment worn under other garments

Từ đồng nghĩa

• undergarment