inclement
Americanadjective
-
(of the weather, the elements, etc.) severe, rough, or harsh; stormy.
-
not kind or merciful.
adjective
-
(of weather) stormy, severe, or tempestuous
-
harsh, severe, or merciless
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of inclement
1615–25; < Latin inclēment-, equivalent to in- in- 3 + clēment- (stem of clēmēns ) clement
Explanation
Inclement usually refers to severe or harsh weather that is cold and wet. When packing for a trip to the Caribbean bring tank tops and shorts, but don't forget a raincoat in case of inclement weather. This adjective can also refer to a person or action that is harsh and unmerciful. Inclement is from a Latin root formed from the prefix in- "not" plus clemens "clement." This English adjective clement can mean either mild or merciful; the more commonly used noun clemency can mean mildness or mercy.
Vocabulary lists containing inclement
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Grade 11, List 4
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
100 SAT Words Beginning with "I"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
The news conference was delayed by around one hour because of "inclement weather", with the UFC asking attendees to "check weather conditions before travelling".
From BBC ● Jun. 13, 2026
To avoid our planet’s environmental inconveniences, the stilts can rise above any inclement weather.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 30, 2026
Existing-home sales fell 8.4% in January, the biggest monthly decline in nearly four years, though economists attributed some of that decline to the inclement weather.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 26, 2026
The inclement weather and a pitch that has been sweating under covers mean England will delay naming their side until Sunday's toss, breaking with their tradition of announcing their eleven 24 hours in advance.
From Barron's ● Feb. 21, 2026
Ulbrickson summoned up a deeper level of despair, calling the Bears the clear favorites before lamenting, “We have been handicapped this year by inclement weather.”
From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
