interminable

adjective

in·​ter·​mi·​na·​ble (ˌ)in-ˈtər-mə-nə-bəl How to pronounce interminable (audio)
-ˈtərm-nə-
: having or seeming to have no end
especially : wearisomely protracted
an interminable sermon
interminableness noun
interminably 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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
After those interminable discussions, dinner had still not been served, and Ms. Daniels was hungry. John R. MacArthur, Harper's Magazine, 13 Sep. 2024 Given pre-dawn call times, interminable setups, post-dusk wraps, and middle-of-the-night commutes in a car carrier loaded with other people’s precious collectibles, does Gouverneur find the job taxing? Brett Berk, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Oct. 2024 While fans continue the seemingly interminable wait for the proper follow-up to 2008’s 4:13 Dream, The Cure will slake their thirst for new music in October with the release of live versions of two new songs. Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 30 Aug. 2024 Over 100 interminable minutes, Apple demonstrated both ordinary activities (email, photo management) and professional ones (filmmaking, audio recording) that will be facilitated by modest updates to what amount to basically the same devices the company has made and sold for a decade. Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 9 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for interminable 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of interminable was in the 15th century

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near interminable

Cite this Entry

“Interminable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/interminable. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

interminable

adjective
in·​ter·​mi·​na·​ble (ˈ)in-ˈtərm-(ə-)nə-bəl How to pronounce interminable (audio)
: having or seeming to have no end
especially : tiresomely long
interminableness noun
interminably adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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