inexorable

[in-ek-ser-uh-buhl]

adjective

1. unyielding; unalterable.

   inexorable truth;

   inexorable justice.

2. not to be persuaded, moved, or affected by prayers or entreaties.

   an inexorable creditor.

   Synonyms: pitiless, cruel, merciless, implacable, unrelenting, unbending
   Antonyms: flexible, merciful

inexorable

/ ɪnˈɛksərəbəl /

adjective

1. not able to be moved by entreaty or persuasion

2. relentless

Other Word Forms

• inexorability noun
• inexorableness noun
• inexorably adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of inexorable¹

From the Latin word inexōrābilis, dating back to 1545–55. See in- ³, exorable

Word History and Origins

Origin of inexorable¹

C16: from Latin inexōrābilis, from _in- ¹ + exōrābilis, from exōrāre to prevail upon, from ōrāre to pray

Synonym Study

See inflexible.

Example Sentences

Jack said it was "really awful and horrible" watching his dad's inexorable decline.

From BBC

And all this against a background of international turmoil: war in Europe, disengagement by the Americans, the inexorable rise of populism.

From BBC

Rugby is forever in danger of eating itself with its inexorable march towards grunt and aggression, but these two remind you of why you might have fallen in love with rugby in the first place.

From BBC

Despite Russia's slow, inexorable advance through the battlefields of the Donbas, Ukraine is telling Russia, and the Trump administration, not to dismiss Kyiv's prospects so easily.

From BBC

The compulsion and attraction towards Trump, MAGA, and authoritarianism are very deep, if not inexorable, for many tens of millions of Americans.

From Salon

Related Words

• implacable 
• inescapable 
• merciless 
• relentless 
• unrelenting