How to Use open-ended in a Sentence

open-ended

adjective
  • What once felt open-ended now feels finite.
    — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 11 Feb. 2026
  • The plot point was left open-ended at the end of season 2.
    — Joyce Eng, Entertainment Weekly, 19 June 2026
  • And there are some things that are open-ended, so never say never.
    — Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2023
  • The latest strike was open-ended and lasted four weeks.
    — Sacbee.com, 23 Feb. 2026
  • Of course, these blocks are also fun for creative and open-ended play.
    — Maya Polton, Parents, 7 Nov. 2023
  • Those were just hanging out, open-ended, with two stories of house on top of them.
    — Murr Brewster, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 Aug. 2023
  • The draft that Clint initially read was even more open-ended.
    — Tomris Laffly, TIME, 4 Nov. 2024
  • The first prompt is open-ended and likely to return generic results.
    — Shikher Goel, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
  • That resolution to lose 10 pounds is too vague and open-ended.
    — Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 19 Jan. 2024
  • This adorable workbench encourages all sorts of creative and open-ended play.
    — Jessica Booth, Parents, 1 Nov. 2023
  • Holding back or keeping things open-ended slows momentum right now.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Sometimes a self-ask might be insightful when the question or problem is open-ended.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes, 7 Sep. 2024
  • Kaos was left open-ended, and Covell has spoken about a vision for three seasons.
    — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2024
  • The strike is open-ended until the health care giant and union alliance reach a contract agreement.
    — Pat Maio, Oc Register, 16 Feb. 2026
  • This ensures that all the dishes go together and keeps choices from being too open-ended.
    — Maggie Gillette, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Jan. 2025
  • But the point is, the games didn’t end anyway, so all of this was pointless and just left open-ended for more seasons someday or spin-offs.
    — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
  • Still, the current hurricane wind scale is open-ended, Masters said.
    — Max Chesnes, Miami Herald, 6 Feb. 2024
  • The race is expected to be highly competitive and the most open-ended in decades.
    — Craig Gilbert, jsonline.com, 26 Aug. 2025
  • That bill was filed in the first week of the session, and would require the state to fund charter schools — Miles’ bill is more open-ended.
    — The Courier-Journal, 26 Jan. 2024
  • And some things are kind of open-ended and really meant to generate discussion among people who see it.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2025
  • Cyrus is similarly open-ended about acting.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
  • For you, was part of the appeal being able to zero in on one family instead of making something more open-ended?
    — Matthew Jacobs, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Dec. 2023
  • The poll was open-ended, and a majority of the answers fell into broader categories.
    — Kaylah Jackson, NBC news, 25 June 2026
  • The questions about the 2020 election were open-ended, two people familiar with the questioning said.
    — Josh Dawsey The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 28 Mar. 2024
  • Even Morticia is unaware of what became of her sister, leaving Ophelia’s story open-ended for now.
    — Jane Lacroix, People.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • In the book, the story leaves off a bit more open-ended, though reasserting through Eleanor’s inner monologue that she and Jamie weren’t meant to be together.
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 1 Aug. 2025
  • Haute Couture The high-fashion theme of 1995 was both straightforward and vastly open-ended.
    — Zoey Lyttle, Peoplemag, 1 May 2023
  • Game play is open-ended, including activities such as collecting and making items, planting, catching insects and fishing.
    — Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
  • But Still No Diana The series, which concluded in 2021, left things open-ended.
    — Kelly Martinez, Peoplemag, 29 June 2023
  • Beijing appears to be willing to be patient, allowing Washington to become mired in a costly and open-ended confrontation with Iran.
    — Amena Bakr, semafor.com, 14 May 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'open-ended.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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