nameless

adjective

name·​less ˈnām-ləs How to pronounce nameless (audio)
Synonyms of namelessnext
1
: obscure, undistinguished
2
: not known by name : anonymous
3
: having no legal right to a name (as due to being born to parents not married to each other)
4
: not having been given a name : unnamed
5
: not marked with a name
a nameless grave
6
a
: incapable of precise description : indefinable
b
: too repulsive or distressing to describe
namelessly adverb
namelessness noun

Synonyms of nameless

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Examples of nameless in a Sentence

She left the hotel with a nameless man in a black jacket. The source for my story prefers to remain nameless. A top government official, who shall remain nameless, has expressed concern about the decision. The men were buried there in nameless graves.
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.
That show, which debuted in 2014 and had a four-season run, followed both notable and nameless figures during the Revolutionary War. — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026 SignalTrace may begin with a nameless pattern, but its value comes from recognizing that pattern again and connecting it to information that police already possess. — Nicole M. Bennett, The Conversation, 11 Aug. 2026 Wakanda Forever thus became a story about mourning — but piling so many fictional deaths (ranging from nameless soldiers and civilians to the queen of Wakanda herself) on top of the real one becomes emotionally hard to take after a certain point. — Ew Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026 Chef—the character is nameless, and seemingly unknowable—is a mentor and a foil to Tony, his lined face and graying beard highlighting Tony’s youth, his composure framing Tony’s jittery ambition. — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 2 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nameless

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nameless was in the 14th century

Rhymes for nameless

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Browse Nearby Words

name-dropping
nameless
namely
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Cite this Entry

“Nameless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nameless. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

nameless

adjective
name·​less ˈnām-ləs How to pronounce nameless (audio)
1
: having no name
2
: not marked with a name
a nameless grave
3
: unknown entry 1, anonymous
a nameless hero
4
a
: impossible to describe
nameless fears
b
: too disgusting or disturbing to be described
nameless acts of cruelty

More from Merriam-Webster on nameless

Nglish: Translation of nameless for Spanish Speakers

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