inordinate
adjective
Did you know?
Although today it describes something that exceeds reasonable limits, inordinate used to be applied to what does not conform to the expected or desired order of things. That sense, synonymous with disorderly and unregulated, is no longer in use, but it offers a hint as to the origins of inordinate. The word traces back to the Latin verb ordinare, meaning “to arrange,” combined with the negating prefix in-. Ordinare is also the ancestor of such English words as coordination, ordain, ordination, and subordinate. The Latin root comes from the noun ordo, meaning “order” or “arrangement,” from which the English word order and its derivatives originate.
Synonyms
Examples of inordinate in a Sentence
Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 18 Sep. 2024
The pacing is wonky, with the set-up taking an inordinate amount of time while the actual conflict between Joe and the assassins gets rushed through at dizzying speeds.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 12 Sep. 2024
With only one kicker in camp, the 49ers haven’t spent an inordinate amount of time on field goal attempts, with Moody also working on keeping kickoffs away from return specialists as much as possible as the 49ers adjust to the new rules.
—Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 31 July 2024
In the second episode, the veep team spends an inordinate amount of time brainstorming what flavor Meyer should get during a photo-op at the local froyo shop.
—Whizy Kim, Vox, 23 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for inordinate 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'inordinate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near inordinate
Cite this Entry
“Inordinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inordinate. Accessed 8 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
inordinate
adjective
Share