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
Top Picks Best Gifts for Babies The best baby gifts are those that encourage open-ended play and help ease them through difficult transitions, such as teething.
—
Anja Webb, Parents, 6 Nov. 2025
Aren’t laws intended to address emergency provisions by nature open-ended, Alito asked.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 5 Nov. 2025
Afp | Getty Images Starbucks Workers United has authorized an open-ended strike that could begin on Red Cup Day, one of the coffee chain's biggest sales days of the year, the union announced Wednesday.
—Amelia Lucas,kate Rogers, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025
That means asking open-ended, thought-provoking questions about the end of life that feel like lower-hanging fruit, including: What’s coming up for you around aging?
—Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for open-ended
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Anja Webb, Parents, 6 Nov. 2025
Aren’t laws intended to address emergency provisions by nature open-ended, Alito asked.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 5 Nov. 2025
Afp | Getty Images Starbucks Workers United has authorized an open-ended strike that could begin on Red Cup Day, one of the coffee chain's biggest sales days of the year, the union announced Wednesday.
—Amelia Lucas,kate Rogers, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025
That means asking open-ended, thought-provoking questions about the end of life that feel like lower-hanging fruit, including: What’s coming up for you around aging?
—Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for open-ended
Cite this Entry
“Open-ended.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/open-ended. Accessed 23 Nov. 2025.
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