What does indefatigable mean?
Word: Indefatigable
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Indefatigable means never giving up or losing energy, however long or hard the work is.
Synonyms: untiring, unflagging
Word origin: Comes from Latin indefatigabilis, built on the verb fatigare.
How do you spell indefatigable?
Syllables: in - de - fat - i - ga - ble
Tricky part: Fatigue is hiding inside this word, and many students carry its u across. Here the g runs straight on to the next vowel.
Watch out for: indefatiguable, indefatigueable
Memory tip: Fatigue drops its last two letters on the way here.
Indefatigable in a sentence
Example 1: Our indefatigable coach stayed on the ground till dark, helping each player with footwork.
Example 2: Even at eighty, my grandmother is indefatigable and walks round the whole colony each morning.
Example 3: An indefatigable team of volunteers cleaned the entire length of Juhu beach in one weekend.
Fun Fact
This six-syllable word describes someone who never stops, and the spoken stress lands on its third syllable.
Practise the CREST Way
Spellacadabra
Choose the correct option to make a meaningful word:
in_ _fatigable
a) du
b) de
c) di
d) da
Show answer
b) de. The second syllable is spelt like the start of defend, even though it sounds closer to di.
Back to the Roots
Choose the correct meaning:
Indefatigable comes from the Latin verb fatigare. What did that verb mean?
a) to tire out
b) to speak softly
c) to set free
d) to hold back
Show answer
a) to tire out. Put not in front of that verb and you have a person who cannot be worn down.
Jumble Tumble
What is the meaning of the word that can be formed from the given letters?
gtidaeblefain
a) impossible to argue against
b) impossible to satisfy, however much you get
c) too hard to climb over or get past
d) so full of drive that nothing wears you down
Show answer
d) so full of drive that nothing wears you down. Rearranged, the thirteen letters give the long adjective on this page.
Word Puzzle
Match each word with the word closest in meaning:
1. indefatigable 2. candid 3. frugal a. frank b. thrifty c. tireless
a) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b
b) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a
c) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a
d) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b
Show answer
d) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b. A candid friend is frank with you, a frugal shopper is thrifty, and that leaves tireless.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. During a ten-day book fair, which volunteer best fits the word indefatigable?
a) Kiran, who signs in and then sits in the cafe all day.
b) Sonu, who comes along only when his friends are there.
c) Meena, still stacking shelves cheerfully on the closing evening.
d) Arun, who went home after the opening day and stayed away.
Show answer
c) Meena, still stacking shelves cheerfully on the closing evening.
2. Which of these could NOT be said of an indefatigable person?
a) keeps going through dull, repetitive tasks
b) returns to a hard problem day after day
c) gives up after the smallest setback
d) works on long after others have stopped
Show answer
c) gives up after the smallest setback
