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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of indeterminate
Before the nineteen-eighties, judges around the country often used what was known as indeterminate sentencing.
—
Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2025
Vince, who co-founded the Black Rabbit with his brother years ago, has been hiding out in Reno for an indeterminate period, for unambivalent reasons.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025
Pinch off the growing tips of vining crops, such as indeterminate tomatoes, squash, and melons, to force the plants to redirect their energy to fruit production.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Sep. 2025
Under a 1988 state law, California’s governor holds the unusual power to approve, deny or modify parole board decisions for people convicted of murder and sentenced to an indeterminate term.
—Matthew J. Friedman, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for indeterminate
Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2025
Vince, who co-founded the Black Rabbit with his brother years ago, has been hiding out in Reno for an indeterminate period, for unambivalent reasons.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025
Pinch off the growing tips of vining crops, such as indeterminate tomatoes, squash, and melons, to force the plants to redirect their energy to fruit production.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Sep. 2025
Under a 1988 state law, California’s governor holds the unusual power to approve, deny or modify parole board decisions for people convicted of murder and sentenced to an indeterminate term.
—Matthew J. Friedman, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for indeterminate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for indeterminate
Adjective
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Do appealed but ultimately had his indefinite suspension upheld by the California Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board in October 2018, according to the plea agreement.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
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Doing so would be an effective declaration that a permanent five-year farm bill is on indefinite hold.—
Christopher Neubert,
The Conversation,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The map above shows the approximate locations of the shootings.—
Bay Area News Group,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
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The 26-year-old winger is expected to miss the first four matches of LAFC’s MLS regular season as well as the early rounds of the CONCACAF Champions Cup over an approximate eight-week recovery.—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Indeterminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indeterminate. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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