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Synonyms

inaccessible

American  
[in-uhk-ses-uh-buhl] / ˌɪn əkˈsɛs ə bəl /

adjective

  1. not accessible; unapproachable.

    Synonyms:
    unattainable, remote, unreachable

inaccessible British  
/ ˌɪnækˈsɛsəbəl /

adjective

  1. not accessible; unapproachable

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of inaccessible

From the Late Latin word inaccessibilis, dating back to 1545–55. See in- 3, accessible

Explanation

Can't get to something you want? It must be inaccessible. If it were accessible, you wouldn't have any trouble finding it. This word makes a lot of sense when you think about the word access, which is the ability to get at, use, or have something. Inaccessible things are out of reach. There are a lot of ways this word is used. A building without a ramp is often called inaccessible because people who use wheelchairs can't get in. People can be inaccessible too. If your doctor has office hours only one hour a day every two months, she's really inaccessible.

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Vocabulary lists containing inaccessible

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.

Inaccessible roads and downed power lines in Oklahoma also led officials in the town of Claremore, near Tulsa, to announce on social media that the city was “shut down” due to the damage.

From Seattle Times • May 26, 2024

Inaccessible insurance can lead to catastrophic financial losses for people living in disaster-prone areas, the report warns.

From Scientific American • Oct. 25, 2023

Inaccessible by trails, Hyperion, a coast redwood, can be reached only by bushwhacking through heavy vegetation and crossing a river.

From New York Times • Aug. 2, 2022

"A lack of paid leave. Inaccessible child care. Inadequate, long-term saving," said House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal, D-Mass.

From Fox News • Sep. 15, 2021

Inaccessible by land, the little town was reached only by water, and there, in that quiet eddy of the great ocean, lived its quiet, quaint, unique existence.

From The Tale of Timber Town by Grace, Alfred A. (Alfred Augustus)