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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
  • Maybe you’re tempted to overanalyze someone’s tone or a friend’s vague promise.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Aquarius January 20 – February 18 A vague request could create an impressive amount of unnecessary work today.
    — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 1 Sep. 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
  • The objective is not more thinking, longer timelines or endless analysis.
    — Mustafa Shreet, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Then there’s the endless rotation of celebrities playing themselves.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of endless
Adjective
  • Whether Newsom will embrace the Legislature’s efforts to corral big Tech in California — in part or in whole — remains unclear.
    — Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • But climate change's role in melting the glacier and causing the catastrophe is unclear.
    — Megan Fahrney, ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of unclear
Adjective
  • Bergman’s scenario famously reaches the deeply ambiguous point at which the personalities of the actress Elisabet Vogler and her nurse, Alma, seem to merge.
    — Demetrios Matheou, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026
  • What remains are angry customers, ambiguous situations, exceptions, judgment calls and problems that have already failed one resolution attempt.
    — Antony P Gregory, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of ambiguous

Browse Nearby Words

indefinable
indefinite
indefiniteness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Indefinite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indefinite. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of apiary

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All