2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Indebted countries, organizations, or people are ones that owe money to other countries, organizations, or people. □ America's treasury secretary identified the most heavily indebted countries. ● in|debt|ed|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ The company has reduced its indebtedness to just $15 million.
in|de|cen|cy / I ndiː s ə nsi/
1 N‑UNCOUNT If you talk about the indecency of something or someone, you are indicating that you find them morally or sexually offensive. □ [+ of ] …the indecency of their language.
2 N‑UNCOUNT In law, an act of indecency is an illegal sexual act. □ They were found guilty of acts of gross indecency.
in|de|cent / I ndiː s ə nt/
1 ADJ If you describe something as indecent , you mean that it is shocking and offensive, usually because it relates to sex or nakedness. □ He accused Mrs Moore of making an indecent suggestion. ● in|de|cent|ly ADV [ADV with v, ADV adj] □ …an indecently short skirt.
2 ADJ If you describe the speed or amount of something as indecent , you are indicating, often in a humorous way, that it is much quicker or larger than is usual or desirable. □ The opposition says the legislation was drafted with indecent haste. ● in|de|cent|ly ADV □ …an indecently large office.
in|de |cent as|sau lt N‑UNCOUNT Indecent assault is the crime of attacking someone in a way which involves touching or threatening them sexually, but not forcing them to have sexual intercourse.
in|de |cent ex|po |sure N‑UNCOUNT Indecent exposure is a criminal offence that is committed when someone exposes their genitals in public.
in|de|ci|pher|able / I nd I sa I fərəb ə l/ ADJ If writing or speech is indecipherable , you cannot understand what the words are. □ Maggie's writing was virtually indecipherable. □ He uttered little indecipherable sounds.
in|de|ci|sion / I nd I s I ʒ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT If you say that someone suffers from indecision , you mean that they find it very difficult to make decisions. □ After months of indecision, the government gave the plan the go-ahead on Monday.
in|de|ci|sive / I nd I sa I s I v/
1 ADJ If you say that someone is indecisive , you mean that they find it very difficult to make decisions. □ He was criticised as a weak and indecisive leader. ● in|de|ci|sive|ness N‑UNCOUNT [oft with poss] □ The mayor was criticized by radical reformers for his indecisiveness.
2 ADJ An indecisive result in a contest or election is one which is not clear or definite. □ The outcome of the battle was indecisive.
in|deed ◆◆◇ / I ndiː d/
1 ADV [ADV with v] You use indeed to confirm or agree with something that has just been said. [EMPHASIS ] □ Later, he admitted that the payments had indeed been made. □ 'Did you know him?'—'I did indeed.'. □ 'That's a topic which has come to the fore very much recently.'—'Indeed.'
2 ADV You use indeed to introduce a further comment or statement which strengthens the point you have already made. [EMPHASIS ] □ We have nothing against diversity; indeed, we want more of it.
3 ADV [adj ADV ] You use indeed at the end of a clause to give extra force to the word 'very', or to emphasize a particular word. [EMPHASIS ] □ The engine began to sound very loud indeed.
in|de|fati|gable / I nd I fæ t I gəb ə l/ ADJ You use indefatigable to describe someone who never gets tired of doing something. [FORMAL ] □ His indefatigable spirit helped him to cope with his illness. ● in|de|fati|gab|ly / I nd I fæ t I gəbli/ ADV [ADV with v, ADV adj] □ She worked indefatigably and enthusiastically to interest the young in music.
in|de|fen|sible / I nd I fe ns I b ə l/
1 ADJ If you say that a statement, action, or idea is indefensible , you mean that it cannot be justified or supported because it is completely wrong or unacceptable. □ She described the new policy as 'morally indefensible'.
2 ADJ Places or buildings that are indefensible cannot be defended if they are attacked. □ The checkpoint was abandoned as militarily indefensible.
in|de|fin|able / I nd I fa I nəb ə l/ ADJ An indefinable quality or feeling cannot easily be described. [WRITTEN ] □ There was something indefinable in her eyes.
in|defi|nite / I nde f I n I t/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe a situation or period as indefinite , you mean that people have not decided when it will end. □ The trial was adjourned for an indefinite period.
2 ADJ Something that is indefinite is not exact or clear. □ …at some indefinite time in the future.
in|de fi|nite a r|ti|cle (indefinite articles ) N‑COUNT The words 'a' and 'an' are sometimes called the indefinite article .
in|defi|nite|ly / I nde f I n I tli/ ADV [ADV with v] If a situation will continue indefinitely , it will continue for ever or until someone decides to change it or end it. □ The visit has now been postponed indefinitely.
in|de fi|nite pro |noun (indefinite pronouns ) N‑COUNT An indefinite pronoun is a pronoun such as 'someone', 'anything', or 'nobody', which you use to refer in a general way to a person or thing.
in|del|ible / I nde l I b ə l/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you say that something leaves an indelible impression, you mean that it is very unlikely to be forgotten. □ My visit to India in 1986 left an indelible impression on me. ● in|del|ibly ADV [ADV with v] □ The horrors he experienced are imprinted, perhaps indelibly, in his brain.