adj · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ɪnˈdɛləbl/
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Australia:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:IH2 N D EH1 L IH0 B AH0 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Having the quality of being difficult to delete, remove, wash away, blot out, or efface.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
This ink spot on the contract is indelible.
This stain on my shirt is indelible.
Written with indelible pen.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: unerasable
Antonyms: delible, uninsertable
2
adj
Meaning 2
Incapable of being canceled, lost, or forgotten.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively
Examples
That horrible story just might make an indelible impression on the memory.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: unerasable, unforgettable
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Incapable of being annulled.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
November 7, 1678, Thomas Sprat, a sermon preached at the Anniversary Meeting of the Sons of Clergymen in the Church of St Mary-le-Bow They are [...] endued with indelible power from above.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adjective satellite
Meaning 4
cannot be removed or erased
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
an indelible stain
indelible memories
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: unerasable
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From Latin indēlēbilis (“indestructible”). By surface analysis, in- + delible.
Across languages
Translations
58 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
неизличим
(neizličim)
— difficult to delete, remove or wash away
Catalan:
indeleble
— difficult to delete, remove or wash away
Czech:
nesmazatelný
— difficult to delete, remove or wash away
Dutch:
onverwijderbaar
— difficult to delete, remove or wash away
Dutch:
onuitwisbaar
— difficult to delete, remove or wash away
Esperanto:
neforigebla
— difficult to delete, remove or wash away
Finnish:
lähtemätön
— difficult to delete, remove or wash away
Finnish:
pysyvä
— difficult to delete, remove or wash away
French:
indélébile
— difficult to delete, remove or wash away
Galician:
indeleble
— difficult to delete, remove or wash away
Galician:
indelébel
— difficult to delete, remove or wash away
German:
hartnäckig
— difficult to delete, remove or wash away
German:
unauslöschlich
— difficult to delete, remove or wash away
Greek:
ανεξίτηλος
(anexítilos)
— difficult to delete, remove or wash away
Ancient Greek:
ἀνεξάλειπτος
(anexáleiptos)
— difficult to delete, remove or wash away
Italian:
indelebile
— difficult to delete, remove or wash away
Japanese:
消せない
(kesenai)
— difficult to delete, remove or wash away
Japanese:
削除できない
(sakujo dekinai)
— difficult to delete, remove or wash away
Manx:
neunaardagh
— difficult to delete, remove or wash away
Manx:
neuastyrtagh
— difficult to delete, remove or wash away
Manx:
neuvooghee
— difficult to delete, remove or wash away
Manx:
do-scryst
— difficult to delete, remove or wash away
Polish:
nieusuwalny
— difficult to delete, remove or wash away
Polish:
niezmywalny
— difficult to delete, remove or wash away
Portuguese:
indelével
— difficult to delete, remove or wash away
Portuguese:
inextinguível
— difficult to delete, remove or wash away
Russian:
несмыва́емый
(nesmyvájemyj)
— difficult to delete, remove or wash away
Russian:
нестира́емый
(nestirájemyj)
— difficult to delete, remove or wash away
Spanish:
indeleble
— difficult to delete, remove or wash away
Ukrainian:
незмивний
(nezmyvnyj)
— difficult to delete, remove or wash away
Ukrainian:
невивідний
(nevyvidnyj)
— difficult to delete, remove or wash away
Bulgarian:
незаличим
(nezaličim)
— incapable of being canceled or forgotten
Czech:
nesmazatelný
— incapable of being canceled or forgotten
Dutch:
onvergetelijk
— incapable of being canceled or forgotten
Dutch:
onuitwisbaar
— incapable of being canceled or forgotten
Finnish:
peruuttamaton
— incapable of being canceled or forgotten
Finnish:
lähtemätön
— incapable of being canceled or forgotten
Finnish:
unohtumaton
— incapable of being canceled or forgotten
German:
unauslöschlich
— incapable of being canceled or forgotten
Hungarian:
kitörölhetetlen
— incapable of being canceled or forgotten
Italian:
indelebile
— incapable of being canceled or forgotten
Japanese:
消せない
(kesenai)
— incapable of being canceled or forgotten
Japanese:
忘れられない
(wasurerarenai)
— incapable of being canceled or forgotten
Norwegian:
uutslettelig
— incapable of being canceled or forgotten
Polish:
niezatarty
— incapable of being canceled or forgotten
Portuguese:
indelével
— incapable of being canceled or forgotten
Portuguese:
inesquecível
— incapable of being canceled or forgotten
Russian:
неизглади́мый
(neizgladímyj)
— incapable of being canceled or forgotten
Russian:
незабыва́емый
(nezabyvájemyj)
— incapable of being canceled or forgotten
Spanish:
indeleble
— incapable of being canceled or forgotten
Swedish:
outplånlig
— incapable of being canceled or forgotten
Ukrainian:
незабутній
(nezabutnij)
— incapable of being canceled or forgotten
Dutch:
onuitwisbaar
— incapable of being annulled
Finnish:
peruuttamaton
— incapable of being annulled
Italian:
indelebile
— incapable of being annulled
Polish:
nieusuwalny
— incapable of being annulled
Portuguese:
indelével
— incapable of being annulled
Portuguese:
inanulável
— incapable of being annulled
