incontinent

[ in-kon-tn-uhnt ]

/ ɪnˈkɒn tn ənt /

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See synonyms for: incontinent / incontinence / incontinency on Thesaurus.com

adjective

unable to restrain natural discharges or evacuations of urine or feces.

unable to contain or retain (usually followed by of): incontinent of temper.

lacking in moderation or self-control, especially of sexual desire.

unceasing or unrestrained: an incontinent flow of talk.

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of incontinent

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin incontinent- (stem of incontinēns ); see in-³, continent (adjective)

OTHER WORDS FROM incontinent

in·con·ti·nence, in·con·ti·nen·cy, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH incontinent

incontinent , inconsistent

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use incontinent in a sentence

Opponents of Muslims and immigrants across the continent are claiming vindication in the aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo attack.
Europe’s Islam Haters Say We Told You So|Barbie Latza Nadeau|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
This is a guy who has his son-in-law clean his eyeglasses, for crying out loud.
Will Chris Christie Regret His Cowboy Hug?|Matt Lewis|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Her travel clique has been known to arrive at an airport, bags packed, passport-in-hand, within hours of spotting a deal.
‘We Out Here’: Inside the New Black Travel Movement|Charlise Ferguson|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
World War II is still a long way off, but the seeds of conflict are already being sown on the continent.
What Downton’s Fashion Really Means|Katie Baker|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Earl Spencer adds, “Effectively, my great-grandfather sold his children to his father-in-law.”
The Real-Life ‘Downton’ Millionairesses Who Changed Britain|Tim Teeman|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Such throats are trying, are they not?In case one catches cold; Ah, yes!
Boys and Girls Bookshelf; a Practical Plan of Character Building, Volume I (of 17)|Various
For good or ill, the torrent of rebellion was suffered to break loose, and it soon engulfed a continent.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
The commander-in-chief still kept him attached to the headquarter staff, and constantly employed him on special service.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
There are some other trees planted, and many small, thrifty forests, such as I had hardly seen before on the Continent.
Glances at Europe|Horace Greeley
So far Murat had always held subordinate commands; his great ambition was to become the commander-in-chief of an independent army.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison

British Dictionary definitions for incontinent (1 of 2)

incontinent¹

/ (ɪnˈkɒntɪnənt) /

adjective

lacking in restraint or control, esp sexually

relating to or exhibiting involuntary urination or defecation

(foll by of) having little or no control (over)

unrestrained; uncontrolled

Derived forms of incontinent

incontinence or incontinency, nounincontinently, adverb

Word Origin for incontinent

C14: from Old French, from Latin incontinens, from in- 1 + continere to hold, restrain

British Dictionary definitions for incontinent (2 of 2)

incontinent²

incontinently

/ (ɪnˈkɒntɪnənt) /

adverb

obsolete words for immediately

Word Origin for incontinent

C15: from Late Latin in continentī tempore, literally: in continuous time, that is, with no interval

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

incontinent

Origin of incontinent

OTHER WORDS FROM incontinent

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH incontinent

Words related to incontinent

How to use incontinent in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for incontinent (1 of 2)

Derived forms of incontinent

Word Origin for incontinent

British Dictionary definitions for incontinent (2 of 2)

incontinently

Word Origin for incontinent