interminable

adjective

in·​ter·​mi·​na·​ble (ˌ)in-ˈtər-mə-nə-bəl 

-ˈtərm-nə-

: having or seeming to have no end

especially : wearisomely protracted

an interminable sermon

interminableness noun

interminably

(ˌ)in-ˈtər-mə-nə-blē 

-ˈtərm-nə-

adverb

Did you know?

We promise not to ramble on endlessly about the origins of interminable. The word was borrowed into English in the 15th century and descends from a Latin combination of the prefix in- ("not") and the verb terminare, meaning "to terminate" or "to limit." The word describes not only something without an actual end (or no end in sight, such as "interminable oceans"), but also events, such as tedious lectures, that drag on in such a way that they give no clear indication of ever wrapping up. Other relatives of interminable in English include terminate, determine, terminal, and exterminate.

Examples of interminable in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Then the jury votes will be collected over a series of glorified Zoom calls to representatives in each participating country, which will be marked by video lags and audio dropouts; this process is awkward, interminable, cringeworthy and delightful. —Glen Weldon, NPR, 9 May 2024

As a trio of savvy circus vets, Sara Gettelfinger, Stan Brown and Joe DePaul offer a welcome dose of levity to the at times interminable proceedings. —Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Late Latin interminabilis, from Latin in- + terminare to terminate

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

interminable

adjective

in·​ter·​mi·​na·​ble (ˈ)in-ˈtərm-(ə-)nə-bəl 

: having or seeming to have no end

especially : tiresomely long

interminableness noun

interminably

-blē 

adverb