inordinate
adjective
Did you know?
At one time, if something was "inordinate," it did not conform to the expected or desired order of things. That sense, synonymous with disorderly or unregulated, is now archaic, 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 negative prefix in-. Ordinare is also the ancestor of such English words as coordination, ordain, ordination, and subordinate. The Latin root is a derivative of the noun ordo, meaning "order" or "arrangement," from which the English order and its derivatives originate.
Synonyms
- baroque
- devilish
- excessive
- exorbitant
- extravagant
- extreme
- fancy
- immoderate
- insane
- intolerable
- lavish
- overdue
- overextravagant
- overmuch
- overweening
- plethoric
- steep
- stiff
- towering
- unconscionable
- undue
- unmerciful
Example Sentences
Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 9 Sep. 2022 Simon McCoy, a long-time BBC news presenter who recently left the network, suggested the wall-to-wall coverage was inordinate. Jill Lawless, Chron, 10 Apr. 2021 In the years after the pay cut, Kelly spent an inordinate amount of time trying to find ways to get more money to Ghosn — legally — without having to disclose it. Joe Nocera, Washington Post, 19 Aug. 2022 Staff might spend an inordinate amount of time trying to find the right person to talk to about certain aspects of the work and might lack access to necessary tools and systems. Solomon Amar, Forbes, 9 Aug. 2022 This was an inordinate number of sightings for a species that’s rather uncommon in the state. BostonGlobe.com, 2 July 2022 Unlike former varsity coach George Porritt, who Gonzales will replace this season, Gonzales called an inordinate number of pass plays. Mick Mccabe, Detroit Free Press, 20 May 2022 And this year, an inordinate number of those candidates won. Amelia Pak-harvey, The Indianapolis Star, 9 May 2022 Located on the southern banks of the Thames, the marina is just a few minutes from Battersea High Street, which boasts an inordinate amount of quintessentially English pubs, a few top-notch cafes and at least two swanky wine bars. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 28 July 2022 See More Word History
Middle English inordinat, from Latin inordinatus, from in- + ordinatus, past participle of ordinare to arrange — more at ordain
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
inordinate
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- excessive
- extreme
- insane
- steep
- extravagant
- undue
- infinite
- endless
- lavish
- exorbitant
- immoderate
- intolerable
- unconscionable
- overweening
- plethoric
- baroque
- fancy
- overmuch
- unbearable
- unmerciful
- devilish
- inappropriate
- towering
- overdue
- improper
- immeasurable
- boundless
- overextravagant
- unwarranted
- limitless
- stiff
- unjustifiable
- over the top
- a bit much
- unseemly
- unrestrained
- thick
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- reasonable
- insufficient
- moderate
- inadequate
- modest
- minimal
- minimum
- deficient
- middling
- temperate
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of inordinate are excessive, exorbitant, extravagant, extreme, and immoderate. While all these words mean "going beyond a normal limit," inordinate implies an exceeding of the limits dictated by reason or good judgment.
The words excessive and inordinate can be used in similar contexts, but excessive implies an amount or degree too great to be reasonable or acceptable.
The words exorbitant and inordinate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, exorbitant implies a departure from accepted standards regarding amount or degree.
The meanings of extravagant and inordinate largely overlap; however, extravagant implies an indifference to restraints imposed by truth, prudence, or good taste.
Although the words extreme and inordinate have much in common, extreme may imply an approach to the farthest limit possible or conceivable but commonly means only to a notably high degree.
The synonyms immoderate and inordinate are sometimes interchangeable, but immoderate implies lack of desirable or necessary restraint.