in·dis·pens·able
ˌin-di-ˈspen(t)-sə-bəl 
1
: absolutely necessary : essential
an indispensable member of the staff
is indispensable to the team
2
: not subject to being set aside or neglected
an indispensable obligation
indispensable
noun
Examples of indispensable in a Sentence
Adjective
fully aware that he was an indispensable assistant, he decided that it was high time that he be paid what he was worth
Recent Examples on the Web
Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 18 June 2026
After all, a lot of the motivation for hoarding as people age is due to fear of mistreatment when physical decline makes reliance on oth-ers indispensable.
—Literary Hub, 18 June 2026
The Bottom Line The best online reputation management is invisible to outsiders and indispensable to insiders.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 17 June 2026
Beyond how-to books, the United States offered few means of studying art, few great paintings to imitate, and, thanks to American prudery, few chances to master the complex arrangements of human bodies considered indispensable to art’s most profound forms.
—Susan Tallman, The Atlantic, 13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for indispensable
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Adjective
Microfiber Cloths Over the last few decades, microfiber towels have become an indispensable part of our lives.
—Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 18 June 2026
After all, a lot of the motivation for hoarding as people age is due to fear of mistreatment when physical decline makes reliance on oth-ers indispensable.
—Literary Hub, 18 June 2026
The Bottom Line The best online reputation management is invisible to outsiders and indispensable to insiders.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 17 June 2026
Beyond how-to books, the United States offered few means of studying art, few great paintings to imitate, and, thanks to American prudery, few chances to master the complex arrangements of human bodies considered indispensable to art’s most profound forms.
—Susan Tallman, The Atlantic, 13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for indispensable
Cite this Entry
“Indispensable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indispensable. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
indispensable
adjective
in·dis·pens·able
ˌin-dis-ˈpen(t)-sə-bəl
: absolutely necessary : essential
an indispensable employee
Legal Definition
indispensable
adjective
in·dis·pen·sa·ble
ˌin-di-ˈspen-sə-bəl
: having rights so connected to the claims of the parties to an action that the action cannot be adjudicated without affecting those rights see also indispensable party at party
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