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 Established in 1987, Panama’s indefinite Pensionado Visa grants permanent residency to foreign nationals who can prove a lifetime monthly income or pension of at least $1,000 a month. — Brittany Chang, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026 Foundations are required to distribute at least 5 percent of their assets annually, a rule created precisely to prevent charitable vehicles from becoming indefinite tax shelters. — Nick Allardice, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026 The pop-country sibling trio The Band Perry surprised fans by announcing an indefinite hiatus in 2023, and shocked them by reforming as the husband-and-wife duo of Kimberly Perry and Johnny Costello in 2025. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Aug. 2026 Last week, the city's Planning Commission recommended placing an indefinite moratorium on new personal storage facilities while the city considers potential changes to its rules. — James Taylor, CBS News, 11 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
  • The novel is about a lifestyle influencer who’s forced to relive her own day-in-the-life vlog in an infinite time loop.
    — CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The states claim that Meta’s infinite scroll, autoplay, notifications, likes and recommendation systems are designed to keep young people engaged, similar to the way ingredients in tobacco can hook smokers.
    — Larry Magid, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of infinite
Adjective
  • Schedule the appointment, set the reminder, protect the rest window, and let one steady step make the pressure feel less vague.
    — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2026
  • However, the piece maintains that vague assurances are not enough and that Becerra should commit to a specific time and place, framing a face-to-face debate as an obligation rather than a tactical option.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of vague
Adjective
  • With all those stars clumped together, even fainter globular clusters will typically be easier to spot than the smaller variety.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • For astronomers, these satellites would become a nightmare for observations, crowding out and obscuring fainter objects or even challenging the Milky Way’s prominence with their glare.
    — Arielle Frommer, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of faint
Adjective
  • Doomscrolling on an iPhone, firing endless questions at ChatGPT, or streaming a 4K film on Netflix on your laptop – behind these modern life conveniences lies a high-stakes contest between two Asian technology powers.
    — John Liu, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026
  • When the bros hit the road on their seemingly endless Burning Up run, Magnus will be tagging along as opening act on select dates.
    — Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of endless
Adjective
  • The executive order does not set a deadline for the committee to submit its recommendations, leaving it unclear when a temporary board could be seated.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Even if debris completely burns up during reentry, the effect of so much metal and other aerospace materials being dumped into our planet’s fragile upper atmosphere is unclear.
    — Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of unclear
Adjective
  • Prospective tenants are not allowed to tour the place before renting, and residents have long reported dicey roommate situations and ambiguous policies surrounding tenant rights and eviction.
    — Diamy Wang August 15, Charlotte Observer, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The fate of Duke, diagnosed with a life-threatening ascending aortic aneurysm, is ambiguous.
    — Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 14 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 24 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on indefinite

Nglish: Translation of indefinite for Spanish Speakers

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