open-ended

adjective

open-end·​ed ˌō-pən-ˈen-dəd How to pronounce open-ended (audio)
Synonyms of open-endednext
: not rigorously fixed: such as
a
: adaptable to the developing needs of a situation
b
: permitting or designed to permit spontaneous and unguided responses
open-endedness noun

Examples of open-ended in a Sentence

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.
The plot point was left open-ended at the end of season 2. — Joyce Eng, Entertainment Weekly, 19 June 2026 Holding back or keeping things open-ended slows momentum right now. — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026 The poll was open-ended, and a majority of the answers fell into broader categories. — Kaylah Jackson, NBC news, 25 June 2026 However, this breadth becomes a liability in hardened enterprise workflows that aren’t open-ended. — Anshul Gupta, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for open-ended

Word History

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of open-ended was in 1825

Rhymes for open-ended

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Browse Nearby Words

open-end
open-ended
open-end straight
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Cite this Entry

“Open-ended.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/open-ended. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for open-ended

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