What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
answerless
Example
The mystery surrounding the disappearance of the treasure remains answerless. [answerless: adjective]
Example
She stared at the blank page, feeling frustrated and answerless. [answerless: noun]
unanswered
Example
I sent him an email last week, but it remains unanswered. [unanswered: adjective]
Example
The phone rang repeatedly, but it went unanswered. [unanswered: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Unanswered is more commonly used than answerless in everyday language. Unanswered is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while answerless is less common and may sound more formal or literary.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between answerless and unanswered?
While answerless may sound more formal or literary, unanswered is more commonly used in both formal and informal contexts.
