incessant

[ in-ses-uhnt ]

adjective

1. continuing without interruption; unending; ceaseless:

   an incessant noise.

   Synonyms: unremitting, unrelenting, eternal, perpetual, never-ending, continuous, constant, unceasing

   Antonyms: intermittent

incessant

/ ɪnˈsɛsənt /

adjective

1. not ceasing; continual

Derived Forms

• inˈcessantly, adverb
• inˈcessancy, noun

Other Words From

• in·ces·san·cy in·ces·sant·ness noun
• in·ces·sant·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of incessant¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English incessaunte, from Late Latin incessant-, equivalent to Latin in- negative prefix + cessant- (stem of cessāns ), present participle of cessāre “to stop work”; in- ³, cease, -ant

Word History and Origins

Origin of incessant¹

C16: from Late Latin incessāns, from Latin in- ¹+ cessāre to cease

Example Sentences

Watching Kamala Harris run for president against Donald Trump felt like watching the world’s most difficult game of Frogger: His dogged commitment to irrationality and ugliness—and the loyalty it inspired in his followers—was the incessant traffic of cars and river logs that the Harris campaign had to duck and dodge to avoid.

From Slate

“I’m relaxed about it. I’ve always known what has always been most valuable, which is people, what is going on with people, what is going on with culture. This is so much about the ensemble, about how much we are connecting and the joy that it brought us all to make. It’s not about recognition individually. That should not overwhelm one’s ego or psyche. I feel good and more settled in that understanding. The incessant questioning about awards, awards, awards can be too much.”

From Los Angeles Times

If you conduct an entire election campaign under the shadow of imminent physical violence, amid incessant threats of violence and promises of violence, you should not—perhaps—be surprised that women voters will experience a double indignity at losing their reproductive freedom in 2022 combined with threats of bodily harm if you attempt to do anything to remedy that in 2024.

From Slate

Despite the incessant buzz of drones and the drum line of occasional explosions, for those determined to stay out of the fight between the Iran-backed Shiite militant group and Israel, it’s the “war over there.”

From Los Angeles Times

Most Americans spend the fall of even-numbered years doing their best to dodge the incessant prate of political ads that seems to stalk them everywhere.

From Slate

Related Words

• ceaseless
• constant
• continual
• continuous
• endless
• interminable
• nonstop
• perpetual
• relentless
• round-the-clock
• unceasing
• unending
• unrelenting
• unremitting