Make Your Point > Archived Issues > INDEFATIGABLE

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connect today's word to others: Indefatigable people are unf____ing: they keep on working energetically at the same strong and steady pace. And they rarely succumb to las______, or tiredness or weariness in the body or the mind. (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) make your point with... "INDEFATIGABLE" When you're fatigued, that means you're tired, weary, or exhausted. But if you never get fatigued, you're indefatigable: you keep on working without getting tired or weary. In other words, indefatigable people and things have energy, devotion, and enthusiasm that lasts for a long time. Pronunciation: in diff AT ig uh bull Part of speech: Adjective. (Adjectives are describing words, like "large" or "late." They can be used in two ways: 1. Right before a noun, as in "an indefatigable thing" or "an indefatigable person." 2. After a linking verb, as in "It was indefatigable" or "He was indefatigable.") Other forms: indefatigably, indefatigableness & indefatigability Why is it "in + de + fatigable"? Shouldn't that mean "not not fatigue-able"? The "in" part means "not," and the "de" part means "utterly." So, someone indefatigable is, literally, "not able to be made utterly weary." How to use it: This is a hefty word, obviously. So when people are so remarkably devoted and energetic that they deserve a six-syllable whopper of an adjective, pick "indefatigable" instead of "tireless," "determined," "hardworking," "enthusiastic" and so on. Talk about indefatigable types of people: indefatigable activists, caretakers, leaders, mentors, performers, students, supporters (and opponents), readers, workers, etc. You can also say that people are indefatigable in doing something ("she's indefatigable in protecting voters' rights") or that people are indefatigable in their pursuit of something, indefatigable in their attention to something, indefatigable in their support of something and so on: "this worker is indefatigable in his pursuit of a solution," "this editor is indefatigable in her attention to each sentence," "her friends are indefatigable in their support of her goals." Or, talk about indefatigable feelings or qualities: indefatigable support or opposition, indefatigable effort or attention, indefatigable diligence or care, etc. examples: Carol was indefatigable in her care and devotion to her aging parents. In the winter months we did Tae Bo workouts, led by the earnest and indefatigable Billy Blanks. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "indefatigable" means when you can explain it without saying "resolute" or "unwearied." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "(Someone) (is/was) known for (his/her) indefatigable (support/defense) of _____." Example: "Malala Yousafzai is known for her indefatigable defense of education for girls." before you review: Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first. Our game this month is Banishing Bland Adjectives. In each issue, we're strengthening our word-finding skills as we take aim at a vague little adjective and think up three ways to make it more specific. Resist the urge to sneak off to the thesaurus! From the previous issue: NORMAL. 1. When something is NORMAL because we do it all the time without even thinking about it or trying to do it a certain way, then instead of NORMAL, call it _____. 2. When something is NORMAL because it's what society expects us to do and it's what our parents and grandparents always did, then instead of NORMAL, call it _____. 3. When something is NORMAL because it's how it's supposed to be and how we need or expect it to be, then instead of NORMAL, call it _____. Suggested answers: 1, natural; 2, traditional; 3, standard. (Your answers might be different but just as precise.) Today: CRAZY. 1. When something is CRAZY because you weren't expecting it to be that way and it makes you laugh, then instead of CRAZY, call it _____. 2. When someone is CRAZY because the things that person says or does are totally different from what other people say and do, then instead of CRAZY, call that person _____. 3. When something is CRAZY because it involves a whole lot of things that must be done in a short amount of time, then instead of CRAZY, call it _____. review today's word: 1. One opposite of INDEFATIGABLE is A. DRAINED B. INFLATED C. HEIGHTENED 2. The performance was _____, the result of indefatigable practice. A. impeccable B. middling C. sloppy Answers are below. a final word: Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each weekday morning by Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. From Liesl's blog:    36 ways to study words.    Why we forget words, & how to remember them.    How to use sophisticated words without being awkward. To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. A 2. A