inordinate

adjective

in·​or·​di·​nate in-ˈȯr-də-nət 

-ˈȯrd-nət

1

: exceeding reasonable limits : immoderate

2

archaic : disorderly, unregulated

inordinately adverb

inordinateness noun

Did you know?

Although today it describes something that exceeds reasonable limits, inordinate used to be applied to what does not conform to the expected or desired order of things. That sense, synonymous with disorderly and unregulated, is no longer in use, but it offers a hint as to the origins of inordinate. The word traces back to the Latin verb ordinare, meaning “to arrange,” combined with the negating prefix in-. Ordinare is also the ancestor of such English words as coordination, ordain, ordination, and subordinate. The Latin root comes from the noun ordo, meaning “order” or “arrangement,” from which the English word order and its derivatives originate.

Synonyms

• baroque
• devilish
• excessive
• exorbitant
• extravagant
• extreme
• fancy
• immoderate
• insane
• intolerable
• lavish
• overdue
• overextravagant
• overmuch
• overweening
• plethoric
• steep
• stiff
• towering
• unconscionable
• undue
• unmerciful

Choose the Right Synonym for inordinate

excessive, immoderate, inordinate, extravagant, exorbitant, extreme mean going beyond a normal limit.

excessive implies an amount or degree too great to be reasonable or acceptable.

excessive punishment

immoderate implies lack of desirable or necessary restraint.

immoderate spending

inordinate implies an exceeding of the limits dictated by reason or good judgment.

inordinate pride

extravagant implies an indifference to restraints imposed by truth, prudence, or good taste.

extravagant claims for the product

exorbitant implies a departure from accepted standards regarding amount or degree.

exorbitant prices

extreme may imply an approach to the farthest limit possible or conceivable but commonly means only to a notably high degree.

extreme shyness

Examples of inordinate in a Sentence

I waited an inordinate amount of time.

They have had an inordinate number of problems with the schedule.

Recent Examples on the Web

In reality, the minors did not receive an education from an accredited and licensed school but instead worked inordinate hours for UNOI's financial benefit, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. —Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 18 Sep. 2024

The pacing is wonky, with the set-up taking an inordinate amount of time while the actual conflict between Joe and the assassins gets rushed through at dizzying speeds. —Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 12 Sep. 2024

With only one kicker in camp, the 49ers haven’t spent an inordinate amount of time on field goal attempts, with Moody also working on keeping kickoffs away from return specialists as much as possible as the 49ers adjust to the new rules. —Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 31 July 2024

In the second episode, the veep team spends an inordinate amount of time brainstorming what flavor Meyer should get during a photo-op at the local froyo shop. —Whizy Kim, Vox, 23 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English inordinat, from Latin inordinatus, from in- + ordinatus, past participle of ordinare to arrange — more at ordain

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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Kids Definition

inordinate

adjective

in·​or·​di·​nate in-ˈȯrd-ᵊn-ət 

-ˈȯrd-nət

: going beyond reasonable limits : immoderate

an inordinate curiosity

inordinately adverb