indomitable

adjective

in·​dom·​i·​ta·​ble in-ˈdä-mə-tə-bəl How to pronounce indomitable (audio)
: incapable of being subdued : unconquerable
indomitable courage
indomitableness noun
indomitably adverb

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Your Knowledge of Indomitable Cannot Be Tamed

At five punchy syllables, indomitable is an imposing word, so it’s inevitable that some are perplexed by this synonym for impregnable. But it’s not so tough once you break it into parts. The prefix in- (spelled im- before b, m, and p) means “not” in an innumerable collection of English words. (How many have you counted so far?) The common suffix -able means “capable of, fit for, or worthy of.” Combine those two English affixes with the Latin verb domitare (“to tame”), and voila: indomitable. Indomitable was first used in English as a synonym of wild, describing—appropriately enough—things that cannot be tamed, but over time the wildness associated with indomitable developed into a specific kind of invulnerable strength.

Examples of indomitable in a Sentence

an indomitable spirit was needed to endure the rigors of pioneer life
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Historic Dodgers overpower Yankees for 8th World Series title Oct. 30, 2024 Seemingly indomitable reliever Blake Treinen threw a season-high 42 pitches while giving up just one hit, striking out three and walking one to record seven outs from the sixth through eighth innings. Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024 His superb 2009 documentary The September Issue pulled back the curtain on the inner workings of Vogue magazine, as orchestrated by the indomitable Anna Wintour. Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 29 Oct. 2024 Halfway through, Boilen casually mentions that her good friend Alan Sparhawk (of the band Low), with whom Lea has a band called the Murder of Crows, will be joining her for two of their songs; their duet is almost funereal, both somber and gorgeous, buoyed by an indomitable optimism. Matthew Ismael Ruiz, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2024 The indomitable spirit of our communities, the philanthropic generosity of the nation, the selflessness of volunteers, the dedication of public servants and the innovation and resources of the private sector have all been instrumental to our collective resilience. Trevor Riggen, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for indomitable 

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin indomitabilis, from Latin in- + domitare to tame — more at daunt

First Known Use

1634, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of indomitable was in 1634

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Dictionary Entries Near indomitable

Cite this Entry

“Indomitable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indomitable. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

indomitable

adjective
in·​dom·​i·​ta·​ble in-ˈdäm-ət-ə-bəl How to pronounce indomitable (audio)
: unconquerable
indomitable courage
indomitableness noun
indomitably adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on indomitable

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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