inordinate

[in-awr-dn-it]

adjective

1. not within proper or reasonable limits; immoderate; excessive.

   He drank an inordinate amount of wine.

   Synonyms: disproportionate, unreasonable, outrageous, exorbitant, extreme
   Antonyms: reasonable

2. unrestrained in conduct, feelings, etc..

   an inordinate admirer of beauty.

3. disordered or uncontrolled.

4. not regulated; irregular.

   Keeping such inordinate hours will not help with your sleep issues.

inordinate

/ ɪnˈɔːdɪnɪt /

adjective

1. exceeding normal limits; immoderate

2. unrestrained, as in behaviour or emotion; intemperate

3. irregular or disordered

Other Word Forms

• inordinately adverb
• inordinateness noun
• inordinacy noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of inordinate¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Middle English inordinat, from Latin inordinātus “disordered,” equivalent to in- in- ³ + ordinātus “orderly, appointed”; ordain, ordinate

Word History and Origins

Origin of inordinate¹

C14: from Latin inordinātus disordered, from _in- ¹ + ordināre to put in order

Example Sentences

Fish spends an inordinate amount of time thinking about that hallway.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Scotland have an incredible habit of going scoreless for inordinate amounts of time in Test matches.

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Depositing an inordinate amount of bins around town is just not the way to encourage people to properly dispose of their organic waste, he said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

She doesn’t have the vibe of someone who has devoted inordinate amounts of energy to fitness.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The troglodytes that populate X — among whom Vance spends an inordinate amount of his day — may be thrilled.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• disproportionate 
• dizzying 
• exorbitant 
• irrational 
• unconscionable 
• undue 
• unreasonable 
• unwarranted