What does interminable mean?
Word: Interminable
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Interminable means going on for so long that it seems it will never stop.
How do you spell interminable?
Syllables: in - ter - mi - na - ble
Tricky part: The final part gives the trouble. The vowel before the b is faint, and pupils cannot tell by ear whether to write able or ible. Here it is able.
Watch out for: interminible, interminabel
Memory tip: Sit through a talk like this and you are not able to keep awake. Let able close the word.
Interminable in a sentence
Example 1: The queue for the new ride seemed interminable in the afternoon heat.
Example 2: We listened to an interminable list of announcements before the match began.
Example 3: The monsoon drizzle felt interminable to children waiting to play outside.
Fun Fact
The Latin at its heart means a boundary or end, the same idea as the final station on a train route, so the word really says without an end.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
The visitors grew restless during the intermenable wait for the bus back to the hill station.
a) station
b) visitors
c) restless
d) intermenable
Show answer
d) intermenable. The vowel after the m is the i of terminal.
Mingle-Mangle
Unscramble the jumbled word in the sentence and choose the correct one:
The film critic called the remake a series of nmiblatenier scenes with no real story.
a) intolerable
b) interminable
c) intermittent
d) inexplicable
Show answer
b) interminable. There is no o, no x and just one t in the jumble.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word interminable as used in the sentence:
Nobody enjoyed the interminable speech at the annual prize day.
a) unending
b) tedious
c) endless
d) brief
Show answer
d) brief. A talk over in two minutes is what the audience wanted.
Spell-o-Spell
One of these words is misspelt. Choose its meaning:
1. protracted 2. intermminable 3. wearisome 4. everlasting
a) making you feel tired or bored
b) seeming to drag on with no finish in sight
c) lasting longer than was expected
d) continuing for all time
Show answer
b) seeming to drag on with no finish in sight. It has a single m in the middle.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A passenger calls the flight interminable. What does she really feel?
a) it seemed far longer than she could bear
b) it ended sooner than her friend's did
c) it landed much earlier than promised
d) it was the best trip of her life
Show answer
a) it seemed far longer than she could bear
2. Which event would bored pupils most likely describe as interminable?
a) a short quiz before the bell
b) a five-minute morning assembly
c) a quick walk to the playground
d) a three-hour lecture with no break
Show answer
d) a three-hour lecture with no break
