interminable

adjective

in·​ter·​mi·​na·​ble (ˌ)in-ˈtər-mə-nə-bəl How to pronounce interminable (audio)
-ˈtərm-nə-
: having or seeming to have no end
especially : wearisomely protracted
an interminable sermon
interminableness noun
interminably adverb

Did you know?

We promise not to ramble on endlessly about the origins of interminable. The word was borrowed into English in the 15th century and descends from a Latin combination of the prefix in- ("not") and the verb terminare, meaning "to terminate" or "to limit." The word describes not only something without an actual end (or no end in sight, such as "interminable oceans"), but also events, such as tedious lectures, that drag on in such a way that they give no clear indication of ever wrapping up. Other relatives of interminable in English include terminate, determine, terminal, and exterminate.

Examples of interminable in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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This reality, combined with this accelerating trade war between the US and China and the interminable state and federal permitting processes now threaten to fully stall an already slowing transition. David Blackmon, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024 Apart from the interminable 2000 (when the race came down to a recount in Florida that didn't end until Dec. 12) and 2020 elections, only 2004 kept us in more suspense. Nathaniel Rakich, ABC News, 26 Nov. 2024 Childhood visits to Kenya were a mission in themselves—three days of connecting flights and interminable transits in Athens, Cairo, and Nairobi before arriving, bleary-eyed and bad-tempered, in Mombasa. Selina Denman, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Nov. 2024 Yes, resolving the MASN deal has been interminable, never finalizing how and when the Nationals will get their share of revenues from the Baltimore Orioles. David Aldridge, The Athletic, 27 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for interminable 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Late Latin interminabilis, from Latin in- + terminare to terminate

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of interminable was in the 15th century

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Dictionary Entries Near interminable

Cite this Entry

“Interminable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/interminable. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

interminable

adjective
in·​ter·​mi·​na·​ble (ˈ)in-ˈtərm-(ə-)nə-bəl How to pronounce interminable (audio)
: having or seeming to have no end
especially : tiresomely long
interminableness noun
interminably adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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