interminable
adjective
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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
Eric Nehm, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025
The story served as a resolution to help prove that America was unique and not destined to experience the interminable rivalries and miseries of the Old World.
— Made By History, Time, 9 Apr. 2025
For several interminable minutes on the morning of Feb. 28, President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance had berated Zelensky, calling him ungrateful, weak and dangerous while talking over his attempts to argue back.
—Simon Shuster, TIME, 24 Mar. 2025
Footage captured by documentary cameras reveals Dylan backed into a corner by Willie Nelson and Huey Lewis, who speak at him for an interminable period about their golf game.
—Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for interminable
Cite this Entry
“Interminable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/interminable. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
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interminable
adjective
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