indefinite

adjective

(ˌ)in-ˈde-fə-nət How to pronounce indefinite (audio)
Definition of indefinitenext
1
as in infinite
being or seeming to be without limits the indefinite vastness of the frozen tundra

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in vague
not expressed in precise terms an indefinite longing for something new and exciting in her life

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in faint
not seen or understood clearly through the dense fog we could just barely discern the indefinite form of another boat

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of indefinite If Clancy is found not guilty by reason of insanity, she would likely be committed to a secure state mental health facility for an indefinite period of time. — Nicole Acosta, PEOPLE, 24 Aug. 2026 Baltimore City passed a six-month moratorium in May, Harford County passed an indefinite ban in June, and Prince George’s and Montgomery counties both passed moratoriums in July. — Jorge Aguilar, Baltimore Sun, 22 Aug. 2026 Excessive data gathering, lax access controls, indefinite retention, and insufficient governance all increase the impact of breaches. — Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026 The ChatGPT maker announced the decision in a Tuesday blog post, citing two events as drivers of the indefinite training halt. — Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for indefinite
Recent Examples of Synonyms for indefinite
  1. infinite
  2. vague
  3. faint
  4. endless
  5. unclear
  6. ambiguous
Adjective
  • Then, in a famous 1937 paper, the mathematician Alan Turing devised a model based on hypothetical machines that could read and write symbols printed on an infinite tape according to a set of simple rules.
    — Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 28 Aug. 2026
  • In a world of infinite access, experience becomes the scarcity.
    — Jesse Kirshbaum, SPIN, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of infinite
Adjective
  • The Fed chairman, who took charge of the central bank in May, is deliberately vague, saying investors and businesses should watch what's happening in the economy, not in the policymaking corridors of Washington.
    — Scott Horsley, NPR, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The Senate proposal also includes measures to try and lighten the loads on Californians’ utility bills, though again, details remain vague.
    — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of vague
Adjective
  • This stage begins when the moon enters the faint edges of Earth's shadow, called the penumbra.
    — Julia Gomez, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
  • That year, the Perseids will peak in the glare of a waxing moon just four days from turning full, and the moonlight will hide many of the shower's fainter shooting stars.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of faint
Adjective
  • Britton was just one in an endless outpouring of grief over Parton’s death, as her costars, contemporaries, and friends all remembered the country legend.
    — Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Chains like Swig pioneered the model in the early 2010s, building menus around endless flavor combinations and signature creamy add-ins.
    — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of endless
Adjective
  • The RealReal declined to disclose the underlying search counts or specific thresholds, leaving the size of the starting bases unclear.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Attacking reinforcements appear to be the priority now, although the exact identity or specific positions those recruits play in remains unclear.
    — Andy Naylor, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of unclear
Adjective
  • Then ask the insurer, in writing, about anything the certificate leaves ambiguous.
    — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Though her character’s fate was left ambiguous by the end of the film, it was ultimately revealed in 2023’s Scream VI that Kirby survived an intense stab wound and went on to become an FBI special agent.
    — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of ambiguous

Browse Nearby Words

indefinable
indefinite
indefiniteness
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Cite this Entry

“Indefinite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indefinite. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.

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