incessant

[ in-ses-uhnt ]

adjective

1. continuing without interruption; unending; ceaseless:

   an incessant noise.

   Synonyms: unremitting, unrelenting, eternal, perpetual, never-ending, continuous, constant, unceasing

   Antonyms: intermittent

incessant

/ ɪnˈsɛsənt /

adjective

1. not ceasing; continual

Derived Forms

• inˈcessantly, adverb
• inˈcessancy, noun

Other Words From

• in·ces·san·cy in·ces·sant·ness noun
• in·ces·sant·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of incessant¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English incessaunte, from Late Latin incessant-, equivalent to Latin in- negative prefix + cessant- (stem of cessāns ), present participle of cessāre “to stop work”; in- ³, cease, -ant

Word History and Origins

Origin of incessant¹

C16: from Late Latin incessāns, from Latin in- ¹+ cessāre to cease

Example Sentences

Still “Happy,” truthfully, should have been a shoo-in for Record of the Year given its incessant popularity this past year.

From The Daily Beast

His New York accent slices through the incessant hum of voices.

From The Daily Beast

In the art world, it is fostered by an incessant rain of numbers in the media whenever an art star comes to its attention.

From The Daily Beast

None of your answers to the incessant questions about the bet come off as douchey.

From The Daily Beast

Sometimes, one tires of the incessant cable news punditry; the same talking heads spouting the same talking points.

From The Daily Beast

During the whole day there was an incessant fusillade, the rebelsʼ chief stronghold being the Recoleto Convent.

From Project Gutenberg

Incessant bugle-calls from the natives added to the commotion, and thousands of Chinese crowded into the Chinese Consulate.

From Project Gutenberg

Fifteen of these horned monsters maintain an incessant mooing and bellowing.

From Project Gutenberg

His flow of speech is incessant; he seems not a whit disconcerted by my evident disinclination to talk.

From Project Gutenberg

It affected Bud unpleasantly, just as the incessant bawling of a band of weaning calves used to do.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• ceaseless
• constant
• continual
• continuous
• endless
• interminable
• nonstop
• perpetual
• relentless
• round-the-clock
• unceasing
• unending
• unrelenting
• unremitting