Amorphous

Practice This Word

Having no definite form or shape; lacking a clear structure.

adjective

Amorphous

Having no definite form or shape; lacking a clear structure.

adjective

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Imagine This

Two kids go to a magician. The magician asks what they want him to do with them, and they say, 'Ah, morph us, and make us invisible, so that we are without form or shape!'

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Sounds Like

uh-MOR-fuhs

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Looks Like

Contains the root morph- meaning shape; the suffix -ous indicates an adjective.

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Remember This

Gel is usually formless until it is put into a mold.

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Other Forms

amorphouslyadverb

amorphousnessnoun

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Connect With

formless, shapeless, unformed, nebulous, unstructured

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Note

Amorphous describes lack of shape in objects, substances, or ideas. Do not use it to describe a person; amorphous ideas or organizations are common, but people are usually described as undefined or indeterminate.

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Study Deeper

Examples

The sculpture was amorphous, lacking a definite outline and appearing to melt into the air.
Their plan for the project remained amorphous until they met with a strategist to define concrete steps.

Synonyms

shapelessformlessunformedindefinitenebulous

Antonyms

definedshapedstructured

Etymology

From Greek a- (without) + morphē (form, shape); the suffix -ous forms an adjective.

Mnemonic

A-MORPH-ous: Without morph (shape); remember the root morph meaning shape, and the prefix a- meaning without.