open-ended
adjective
open-end·ed
ˌō-pən-ˈen-dəd 
: not rigorously fixed: such as
a
: adaptable to the developing needs of a situation
b
: permitting or designed to permit spontaneous and unguided responses
open-endedness
noun
Examples of open-ended in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The open-ended nature of the policy is also stretching the limit of some imaginations.
—
Bloomberg, Orange County Register, 6 Feb. 2025
Scheduling it on a Friday gives lawmakers a relatively open-ended timeframe to debate the matter — except for their own wishes to get home for the weekend, of course.
—Nick Coltrain, The Denver Post, 3 Feb. 2025
This ensures that all the dishes go together and keeps choices from being too open-ended.
—Maggie Gillette, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Jan. 2025
The big picture: Roughly 5,000 health care workers — including physicians, nurses and midwives — at eight Providence hospitals and six clinics plan to go on an open-ended strike starting Friday morning.
—Meira Gebel, Axios, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for open-ended 
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Bloomberg, Orange County Register, 6 Feb. 2025
Scheduling it on a Friday gives lawmakers a relatively open-ended timeframe to debate the matter — except for their own wishes to get home for the weekend, of course.
—Nick Coltrain, The Denver Post, 3 Feb. 2025
This ensures that all the dishes go together and keeps choices from being too open-ended.
—Maggie Gillette, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Jan. 2025
The big picture: Roughly 5,000 health care workers — including physicians, nurses and midwives — at eight Providence hospitals and six clinics plan to go on an open-ended strike starting Friday morning.
—Meira Gebel, Axios, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for open-ended
Dictionary Entries Near open-ended
Cite this Entry
“Open-ended.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/open-ended. Accessed 23 Feb. 2025.
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