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
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The Scarlet Letter
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The Haunting of Hill House
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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.
Dull subject matter, symbolism either opaque or eye-rollingly overt, and an indefatigable self-seriousness are all hallmarks of the caricature, and Mr. Aitken checks many of these boxes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
Known for his indefatigable bonhomie and upbeat mood, Rutte remains much appreciated behind the scenes at NATO.
From Barron's ● Jul. 6, 2026
But thanks to Reid’s indefatigable charisma, this vampire sidesteps the resentment millions hold for real-life bloodsuckers by inviting us behind the velvet curtain.
From Salon ● Jun. 13, 2026
Not winning the Tony for his indefatigable performance must sting, but John Lithgow was favored to win for his brave turn as the baleful Roald Dahl of Mark Rosenblatt’s “Giant.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 8, 2026
To so practised and indefatigable a horseman as Mr. Rochester, it would be but a morning’s ride.
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
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.
