What does untameable mean?
Untameable means too wild, powerful, energetic, or resistant to be controlled. Its literal use describes an animal or force that cannot be tamed, while its figurative use often applies to a person's spirit, creativity, ambition, or imagination. The word frequently suggests freedom and vitality: an untameable spirit is usually portrayed with admiration rather than treated simply as a problem. It can nevertheless imply danger or disorder when used of landscapes, weather, animals, or rebellious forces. Both “untameable” and “untamable” are accepted in British and American English, with the latter more common in North America. The adjective is useful because it captures resistance to control while retaining a strong literary and evocative character.
adjectiveToo wild, strong, energetic, or difficult to control to be tamed. It can describe animals, forces, landscapes, or an abstract quality such as a spirit or imagination.
- Unable to be tamed or brought under control.
- Characterized by fierce, unruly, or unconquerable energy.
"The untameable energy of the mountains draws the climber back each spring."
"They rode across the untameable northern plains."
"Her untameable imagination turned an ordinary afternoon into an elaborate adventure."
Untameable gives wildness a distinctly literary ring: it can describe not only a beast, but a spirit, an imagination, or a force that refuses to be controlled.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does untameable come from?
“Untameable” was formed in English by combining the negative prefix un- with tame and the suffix -able, literally expressing the idea of not being able to tamed. The word dates from the early 17th century and was used for both literal animals and figurative qualities that resisted control. Its base is shared with “tame,” as well as the related forms “tameable” and “tamable,” the last two normally meaning able to be brought under control.
Related word forms
How untameable is actually used
The word is especially common in British English, although both British and American usage accept untameable; untamable is more frequent in North America. In figurative use, it often carries an admiring sense of independence and vitality, though it can also suggest frustrating or dangerous disorder.
Easily confused with untameable
Untameable and untamable are variant spellings of the same adjective, with untamable being more common in American usage.