irresistible
Americanadjective
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not resistible; incapable of being resisted or withstood.
an irresistible impulse.
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lovable, especially calling forth feelings of protective love.
an irresistible puppy.
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enticing; tempting to possess.
an irresistible necklace.
noun
adjective
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not able to be resisted or refused; overpowering
an irresistible impulse
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very fascinating or alluring
an irresistible woman
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of irresistible
From the Medieval Latin word irresistibilis, dating back to 1590–1600. See ir- 2, resistible
Explanation
If something is irresistible, you have to have it, like the plate of gooey chocolate chip cookies sitting in front of a group of dieters who one by one help themselves to a handful. If you can’t resist something, it’s irresistible. Something is irresistible if it is so enticing, attractive, magnetic, tempting, or alluring that you must have it. You have no control — that's what all irresistible things have in common. From potato chips to bargain shopping or the urge to send text messages, when something is irresistible, it's hard to fight.
Vocabulary lists containing irresistible
Commonly Misspelled Words, List 6
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List 9
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-ible
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
With the ratio of workers to retirees shrinking, the temptation to reach for the largest bucket of money becomes irresistible.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
After almost quadrupling from May 2025, the temptation to book profits had become irresistible.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 8, 2026
Its simple, optimistic message — polished with the help of BP’s sophisticated public relations expertise — had an irresistible allure.
From Salon ● Jun. 26, 2026
Opening track Are You Listening Yet rumbled along on an irresistible soca rhythm, while a sample of Underworld's Born Slippy gave Taste Back a much-needed turbo boost.
From BBC ● Jun. 13, 2026
Heavy, irresistible waves of dreamless sleep broke over him; he fell back onto his pillows and thought no more.
From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
