Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Having or bearing no name.
  • adjective Unknown by name; obscure.
  • adjective Not designated by name; anonymous.
  • adjective Defying description; inexpressible.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Without a name; not distinguished by an appellation: as, a nameless star.
  • Not known to fame; obscure; ignoble; without pedigree or repute.
  • That cannot or should not be named: as, nameless crimes.
  • Inexpressible; indescribable; that cannot be specified or defined.
  • Anonymous: as, a nameless poet; a nameless artist.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Without a name; not having been given a name.
  • adjective Undistinguished; not noted or famous.
  • adjective Not known or mentioned by name; anonymous.
  • adjective Unnamable; indescribable; inexpressible.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Not having a name; unnamed.
  • adjective Whose name is unknown; unidentified or obscure.
  • adjective anonymous
  • adjective Unable to be described or expressed.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective being or having an unknown or unnamed source

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

name +‎ -less

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Examples

  • The popularity of Harry Potter and other poorly written books that shall remain nameless is sad, especially when there are so many better books and authors * cough*Lili*cough*.

    Diminishing the Intellect of Cab Drivers lili 2008

  • My copy editor who will remain nameless is very, very good.

    Double your money -free - two rants deep_bluze 2005

  • It ` s like what they call the nameless, faceless people on the other end of the phone that you ` re more likely to lose your temper with, than someone you have to face again.

    CNN Transcript Nov 25, 2008 2008

  • A friend who knows hotel deals and who must remain nameless comments on our proposed Convention Center hotel project that Starwood's apparent indifference to the prudence or lack thereof in the revenue forecasts for the project are probably based on the presence of something called a "non-disturbance agreement" in their deal with Metro.

    Jack Bog's Blog: May 2009 Archives 2009

  • By contrast, the TV news producer I know (also libertarian) who shall remain nameless, who thought I was some sort of perv imagining things for detecting lesbian overtones in the relationship between Xena and Gabrielle, is just clueless.

    Unfunny = Racist 2009

  • Morning, afternoon, at work -- like so many Mexican contractors I know who will remain nameless just in case a supervisor happens to read this.

    Morning Naps 2009

  • At one point, when I was getting frustrated with a couple acts who will remain nameless, someone reminded me that this is the biggest night of their year, or their careers in some cases.

    Grammy performances push the envelope 2010

  • Morning, afternoon, at work -- like so many Mexican contractors I know who will remain nameless just in case a supervisor happens to read this.

    Morning Naps 2009

  • I even had one reply (force shall remain nameless) who wanted clarification on what I meant by “Response Duties” & “Administerial Functions”.

    The Smooth And Efficient Running Of A Police Station « POLICE INSPECTOR BLOG Inspector Gadget 2010

  • According to one reader, who for the sake of his career shall remain nameless, ecstasy tablets on Merseyside at the time owed their nickname to a piece of rhyming slang derived from the former Liverpool defender Gary Ablett.

    Which club started the most managers on the road to football success? John Ashdown 2010

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