indelible

1 of 2

adjective

in·​del·​i·​ble in-ˈde-lə-bəl How to pronounce indelible (audio)
Synonyms of indelible
1
a
: that cannot be removed, washed away, or erased
b
: making marks that cannot easily be removed
an indelible pencil
2
a
: lasting
indelible memories
b
: unforgettable, memorable
an indelible performance
indelibility
(ˌ)in-ˌde-lə-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce indelible (audio)
noun
indelibly
in-ˈde-lə-blē How to pronounce indelible (audio)
adverb

indelibility

2 of 2

noun

in·​del·​i·​bil·​i·​ty (ˌ)inˌdeləˈbilətē How to pronounce indelibility (audio)
-ətē, 
-i
plural -es
: the quality or state of being indelible

Synonyms of indelible

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Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of indelible in a Sentence

Adjective But the most indelible evening of the rebellion for me was the night I had first got beaten. —Amiri Baraka, The Autobiography of Leroi Jones, 1984
All wars change society and hence leave an indelible imprint on literary culture. —Michiko Kakutani, New York Times Book Review, 15 Apr. 1984
The illustrator of children's books surpasses other artists in the impressionability of his audience; it is beyond calculation, no doubt, what touches will produce an indelible effect, when the receiving surface of a child's psyche is so soft and mysteriously laden and momentous with its own raw energy. —John Updike, New York Times Book Review, 4 Dec. 1983
winning the state basketball championship was our team's most indelible experience
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Her charitable work through the Dollywood Foundation and Imagination Library also left an indelible mark on many. — Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 31 Aug. 2026 For all the profound impact of the Mahomes Era, all that will remain indelible for generations and all that still could be, that reality conjure a jarringly fleeting sensation, too. — Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026 Yayoi Kusama, whose obsessive repetitions of dots and nets became a means of expressing infinity, leaving an indelible mark on contemporary art worldwide, died on August 14 of multiple organ failure at a hospital in Tokyo. — Tessa Solomon For Artnews, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2026 Country queen and national treasure Dolly Parton may have physically left the world on Tuesday, but her indelible mark on the world and the industry will never be forgotten. — Isabelle Farina, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for indelible

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English indelyble, from Medieval Latin indelibilis, alteration of Latin indelebilis, from in- + delēre to delete

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of indelible was in the 15th century

Rhymes for indelible

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Browse Nearby Words

indelibility
indelible
indelicacy
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Indelible.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indelible. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

indelible

adjective
in·​del·​i·​ble in-ˈdel-ə-bəl How to pronounce indelible (audio)
1
: impossible to erase, remove, or blot out
an indelible impression
2
: making or leaving marks not easily erased
an indelible pencil
indelible ink
indelibly
-blē How to pronounce indelible (audio)
adverb
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