inordinate

[ in-awr-dn-it ]

adjective

1. not within proper or reasonable limits; immoderate; excessive:

   He drank an inordinate amount of wine.

   Synonyms: disproportionate, unreasonable, outrageous, exorbitant, extreme

   Antonyms: reasonable

2. unrestrained in conduct, feelings, etc.:

   an inordinate admirer of beauty.

3. disordered or uncontrolled.
4. not regulated; irregular:

   Keeping such inordinate hours will not help with your sleep issues.

inordinate

/ ɪnˈɔːdɪnɪt /

adjective

1. exceeding normal limits; immoderate
2. unrestrained, as in behaviour or emotion; intemperate
3. irregular or disordered

Derived Forms

• inˈordinacy, noun
• inˈordinately, adverb

Other Words From

• in·or·di·nate·ly adverb
• in·or·di·nate·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of inordinate¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Middle English inordinat, from Latin inordinātus “disordered,” equivalent to in- in- ³ + ordinātus “orderly, appointed”; ordain, ordinate

Word History and Origins

Origin of inordinate¹

C14: from Latin inordinātus disordered, from in- ¹+ ordināre to put in order

Example Sentences

The members spent an inordinate amount of time Monday on the question of whether Fauci’s institute funded so-called Gain of Function experiments in China, so a brief primer on this issue is in order.

From Los Angeles Times

First, I have an inordinate amount of love in my heart for all potatoes, yes all, and that has to be criteria number one for my self-appointed title.

From Salon

He says the company spent an “inordinate amount of time” to figure out how to implement the new rules.

From Seattle Times

In effect, both these disease-causing bacteria have changed dramatically from the Bronze Age to today, but it appears that very recent cultural transitions in the industrial era have had an inordinate impact.

From Science Daily

Betts hasn’t played shortstop regularly since high school and he’s tried to compensate for that by taking an inordinate amount of grounders every day.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• disproportionate
• dizzying
• exorbitant
• irrational
• unconscionable
• undue
• unreasonable
• unwarranted