indefatigable
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of indefatigable
1580–90; < Latin indēfatīgābilis untiring, equivalent to in- in- 3 + dēfatīgā ( re ) to tire out ( see de-, fatigue) + -bilis -ble
Explanation
Someone who is indefatigable can go on for a very long time without becoming tired. You might not be so happy to have an indefatigable guide on your walking trip––you'll have blisters, but she'll see no reason not to keep going. Indefatigable comes from Latin indefatigabilis, formed from the prefix in- "not" plus defatigare "to tire out." Here the prefix de- means "entirely." You can remember the root fatigare because it sounds so much like the English fatigue.
Vocabulary lists containing indefatigable
Animal Farm
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Scarlet Letter
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Haunting of Hill House
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Youngman was the headteacher at Indefatigable, a naval boarding school in Llanfair PG, Anglesey.
From BBC • Nov. 26, 2021
Indefatigable to the point of grating: Jamie is such a winsome paragon that viewers may start feeling less beguiled than railroaded by the umpteenth musical number celebrating his you-go-boy self-belief.
From Washington Post • Sep. 8, 2021
Indefatigable and protean, Clinton read the disaffected landscape and adapted in her characteristic style—with a policy agenda.
From The New Yorker • Oct. 24, 2016
Indefatigable assistant Ronda Kamihira has something more difficult to work with, however, and that's how Caitlyn sees herself at the country club.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 7, 2015
A Poem upon the most hopeful and ever-flourishing Sprouts of Valour, the Indefatigable Centrys of the Physic Garden.
From Notes and Queries, No. 209, October 29 1853 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Geneologists, etc. by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
