as in indefinite
formal
not able to be stated or described in an exact way
a man of indeterminate age an indeterminate number of people
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Recent Examples of indeterminate
Funston’s eventual release 27 years into his indeterminate life sentence was set in motion in late September, according to California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials.
—
Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 24 Feb. 2026
The Rangers have an indeterminate amount of available spots in their bullpen.
—Shawn McFarland, Dallas Morning News, 24 Feb. 2026
Or, indeed, anyone else’s, given its alluring but thoroughly peculiar jumble of comic, dramatic and generally antic tones, or the increasingly indeterminate target of its hollow social satire.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026
Their window of opportunity only lasted the weekend — if the scientists didn’t secure the instruments by Monday, an approaching front of bad weather would prevent helicopters from extracting them, effectively stranding them for an indeterminate period of time.
—Joe Wilkins Published Feb 4, Futurism, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for indeterminate
Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 24 Feb. 2026
The Rangers have an indeterminate amount of available spots in their bullpen.
—Shawn McFarland, Dallas Morning News, 24 Feb. 2026
Or, indeed, anyone else’s, given its alluring but thoroughly peculiar jumble of comic, dramatic and generally antic tones, or the increasingly indeterminate target of its hollow social satire.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026
Their window of opportunity only lasted the weekend — if the scientists didn’t secure the instruments by Monday, an approaching front of bad weather would prevent helicopters from extracting them, effectively stranding them for an indeterminate period of time.
—Joe Wilkins Published Feb 4, Futurism, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for indeterminate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for indeterminate
Adjective
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Some people are being held for indefinite amounts of time in immigration detention.—
Kristen Taketa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Mar. 2026
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The expansion has since been put on an indefinite hold over dispute between the project’s developers.—
Kamal Morgan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Wednesday marks the third week of the team’s approximate three-week re-evaluation timeline for Franz Wagner, who continues to manage a left high ankle sprain that’s kept him off the court for a total 34 games this season.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2026
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Based on observations from the James Webb Space Telescope, scientists know the asteroid's approximate length could reach nearly 300 feet, or about the size of a 15-story building.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Indeterminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indeterminate. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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