interminable

What does “interminable” mean?

adjective.endless (often used hyperbolically).

SAT Usage

this term often appears in passages discussing time, monotony, or frustration, emphasizing the feeling of an endless or tedious experience. It suggests not just a lack of conclusion but also an overwhelming sense of weariness, distinguishing it from similar words like "ceaseless," which may lack the emotional weight of tedium.

Common Confusions

Interminable implies an overwhelming sense of tediousness and frustration, while perpetual usually suggests an ongoing state without the same emotional weight of weariness.

Example Sentences

• The interminable queue stretched far outside the building.

Word Parts: How to Remember “interminable”

Break “interminable” into its parts: inter- (between, among). Knowing roots like these helps you decode unfamiliar SAT vocabulary.

• Prefix: inter- between, among (Latin)