indomitable

adjective

in·dom·i·ta·ble in-ˈdä-mə-tə-bəl

: incapable of being subdued : unconquerable

indomitable courage

indomitability

(ˌ)in-ˌdä-mə-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē

noun

indomitableness

in-ˈdä-mə-tə-bəl-nəs

noun

indomitably

in-ˈdä-mə-tə-blē

adverb

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Your Knowledge of Indomitable Cannot Be Tamed

The prefix in- means "not" in numerous English words (think of indecent, indecisive, inconvenient, and infallible). When in- teamed up with the Latin domitare ("to tame"), the result was a word meaning "unable to be tamed." Indomitable was first used in English in the 1600s as a synonym of wild, but over time the wildness associated with indomitable developed into a specific kind of strength. By the 1800s, indomitable was being used for people whose courage and persistence helped them to succeed in difficult situations.

Example Sentences

an indomitable spirit was needed to endure the rigors of pioneer life

Recent Examples on the Web Churchill made sure Roosevelt knew about the British people’s indomitable spirit in the face of constant bombing.

Jeff Bradford, Forbes, 11 Aug. 2022 Over more than two decades, Serena, who will be 41 next month, used her indomitable spirit to obliterate opponents and record books, earning 23 Grand Slam singles titles among 73 career singles championships.

Curtis Bunn, NBC News, 10 Aug. 2022 As history showed, however, the Soviet Union wasn’t indomitable.

David Satter, WSJ, 30 Dec. 2021 The phrase, used by Mr. Kim in his video messages, has become a proud expression of the indomitable spirit of Mykolaiv.

New York Times, 22 June 2022 The indomitable spirit of Anthony Purcell continues to inspire countless people who have been affected by spinal cord injuries.

Emmett Hall, Sun Sentinel, 16 June 2022 Watching Schutte play against all that was stacked against him — including St. X's hungry, opportunistic defense — was a reminder to me of just how indomitable the spirit of a young, determined athlete can be.

Gabriel Stovall, The Courier-Journal, 5 Dec. 2021 Evan Francis Buckner, who died April 28 at the age of 3 and a half, was remembered Tuesday morning at a memorial service in Malibu as an indomitable spirit.

Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 24 May 2022 But the federal and state governments failed to reckon with the indomitable spirit of the Yavapai people who had already fought – and won – several battles dating from the late 19th century.

AZCentral.com, 20 May 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'indomitable.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.