Indeterminable vs. Indeterminate

Indeterminable

/ˌɪndɪˈtɜːmənəbəl/

Not able to be decided or determined.

Examples:

The depth of the ocean trench is indeterminable.Due to sparse records, the timeline remains indeterminable.The cause of the strange noise was indeterminable.

Synonyms:

undecidableunresolvableambiguous

Antonyms:

determinabledefiniteclear

Indeterminate

/ˌɪndɪˈtɜːmənət/

Not able to be determined or unclear

Examples:

The outcome remains indeterminate after the vote.Her indeterminate response left us puzzled.His intentions were somewhat indeterminate.

Synonyms:

ambiguousvagueunspecified

Antonyms:

certaindefiniteclear

Ways to tell them apart:

• Remember that indeterminable often implies something which is impossible to determine or measure, while indeterminate means something not precisely fixed.
• Indeterminable can imply an absolute impossibility in determining, indeterminate indicates a lack of clarity or determination but could possibly be resolved.
• Think of indeterminable as a dead-end in finding a determination, and indeterminate as more of an ongoing uncertainty.