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 In the meantime, posting online brings the risk of having jokes ripped off not just once, but an indefinite amount of times, across accounts, and by all kinds of different bots. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026 Encryption does not justify unnecessary collection, indefinite retention or intrusive profiling. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026 But an indefinite moratorium removes an important governance tool. — Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026 Now the closure, like Russia’s war against Ukraine itself, has become indefinite. — Scott Peterson, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Oct. 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
  • For one thing, social media has gotten far less social since the advent of engagement algorithms and infinite scroll.
    — Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Christ Jesus revealed the true nature of God as infinite good and the true nature of His children as spiritual, reflecting God’s qualities.
    — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of infinite
Adjective
  • Recent criticism The century-old restaurant guide is famous for its secrecy; its inspectors are anonymous and the company releases only vague information about their evaluation process.
    — Henri Hollis, AJC.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The plaintiffs had argued those terms were vague, and that the council selectively used them to silence prominent critics, violating their First Amendment rights.
    — Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of vague
Adjective
  • But take a walk inside and the ground is laden with faint slabs of rock, gravestones from a centuries-old Indigenous family cemetery that had been obscured by the passage of time and neglect.
    — Jason Motlagh, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2026
  • However, the light cast by the waxing moon — just four days from being full — will likely reduce the number of visible meteors by hiding fainter Orionids from sight.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of faint
Adjective
  • Most of the work of recovery is about treating whatever is causing people to escape their lives into endless scrolling and stimulation, Kardaras says.
    — Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • To help banish the endless procrastination, National Geographic’s 2027 list of 25 must-visit destinations for the year ahead is one of its most timely and experience-driven recommendations yet.
    — Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of endless
Adjective
  • In May 2025, NPR reported, citing two sources with direct knowledge, that Holmes had been advising Evans from prison, though the nature of that advice was unclear.
    — Bilin Lin, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2026
  • How that list would be compiled, and by whom, and under what criteria, was left unclear.
    — Barton Gellman, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of unclear
Adjective
  • Jones, Cullen and Locke are pleased to hear how effective the ambiguous ending to Black Church Bay is.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026
  • That’s a question for next season, but their flirtation has been built around Sid’s ambiguous motives from the beginning.
    — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 21 Oct. 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 27 Oct. 2026.

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