inordinate
Americanadjective
-
not within proper or reasonable limits; immoderate; excessive.
He drank an inordinate amount of wine.
- Synonyms:
- disproportionate, unreasonable, outrageous, exorbitant, extreme
- Antonyms:
- reasonable
-
unrestrained in conduct, feelings, etc..
an inordinate admirer of beauty.
-
disordered or uncontrolled.
-
not regulated; irregular.
Keeping such inordinate hours will not help with your sleep issues.
adjective
-
exceeding normal limits; immoderate
-
unrestrained, as in behaviour or emotion; intemperate
-
irregular or disordered
Other Word Forms
- inordinacy noun
- inordinately adverb
- inordinateness noun
Etymology
Origin of inordinate
First recorded in 1350–1400; from Middle English inordinat, from Latin inordinātus “disordered,” equivalent to in- in- 3 + ordinātus “orderly, appointed”; ordain, ordinate
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.
Bunkers comprise only about 1%-2% of the golf course, yet take up an inordinate amount of a golfer’s energy and anxiety.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026
I still do spend an inordinate amount of time texting and scrolling.
From Slate • Jan. 25, 2026
Scotland have an incredible habit of going scoreless for inordinate amounts of time in Test matches.
From BBC • Nov. 20, 2025
“The Northern California contraction has taken an inordinate amount of time and resources, but with that behind us some effort for purse supplements could start up again,” said Scott Chaney, executive director of the CHRB.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 28, 2025
As a society, we certainly appear to have an inordinate fondness for sheep and other livestock, to judge from the vast numbers of them that we keep.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
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.
