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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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 As OutKick reported last week, Romo's OWI arrest put his future in jeopardy beyond the initial indefinite suspension. — Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 7 Aug. 2026 Federal courts responded to the industry lawsuits, which also cite other issues, with an indefinite delay in enforcement of the tougher silica exposure limits. — Howard Berkes, NPR, 5 Aug. 2026 Trump announced indefinite ceasefire When no deal was reached after two weeks, the president decided to hold off strikes further and announced an indefinite ceasefire. — Justin Fishel, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026 On Sunday, a representative for Grande addressed the singer’s indefinite break from the spotlight. — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 2 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 23 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on indefinite

Nglish: Translation of indefinite for Spanish Speakers

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