indomitable

play

adjective in·dom·i·ta·ble \ in-ˈdä-mə-tə-bəl \

Definition of indomitable

:incapable of being subdued :unconquerable

indomitable courage

—

indomitability

play \(ˌ)in-ˌdä-mə-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

—

indomitableness

play \in-ˈdä-mə-tə-bəl-nəs\ noun

—

indomitably

play \in-ˈdä-mə-tə-blē\ adverb

See indomitable defined for English-language learners

See indomitable defined for kids

indomitable was our Word of the Day on 07/29/2015. Hear the podcast!

Examples of indomitable in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of indomitable from the Web

The dead live on in the hearts and minds of the people that cared for them and JD’s huge activist heart and her indomitable, fighting spirit will not be forgotten.

— howard cohen, miamiherald, "Director JD Disalvatore, a valiant voice for the LGBT community, dies at 51," 28 Aug. 2017
But the requisite hope comes from Trevor's indomitable spirit (and that of one of his pals, Cathy, played by the terrific Tori Whaples).

— chris jones, chicagotribune.com, "'Trevor' a promising musical about a kid who's easy to love," 17 Aug. 2017
Amid the darkness of life as a refugee, there is also the indomitable human spirit that lets the light of hope shine on.

— annie leibovitz, The Hive, "The Desperate Struggle for Home at the U.N.’s Largest Syrian Refugee Camp," 17 Aug. 2017
When combining the influence of those Southern musical staples with his skills on the guitar and harmonica, and in harmony with his indomitable band, Grey's timbre is both cathartic and invigorating.

— matthew a. moore, Southern Living, "An Honest Moment With JJ Grey," 11 July 2017
SPIDEY SENSES ARE TINGLING That Spider-Man is the indomitable franchise star.

— yohana desta, vanityfair.com, "Third Time’s a Charm for Spider-Man," 10 July 2017
SPIDEY SENSES ARE TINGLING That Spider-Man is the indomitable franchise star.

— yohana desta, HWD, "Third Time’s a Charm for Spider-Man," 10 July 2017
No mere beautiful figure, Laureline has a piercing intellect, a near-indomitable pride in herself, an endearing but acid wit, and formidable fighting skills.

— gabrielle bellot, The Atlantic, "Science Fiction’s Under-Appreciated Feminist Icon," 8 July 2017
Pressley led the 1986 Villanova Wildcats to the most unlikely national championship upset in tournament history over Patrick Ewing and the seemingly indomitable Georgetown Hoyas.

— the si staff, SI.com, "Where Are They Now: Meet TBT's Stars (Again)," 7 July 2017

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.

Your Knowledge of indomitable Can Not 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 its sense of untamability turned from a problem to a virtue. By the 1800s, "indomitable" was being used for people whose courage and persistence helped them to succeed in difficult situations.