inextricable

[in-ek-stri-kuh‐, in-ik-strik-uh-buhl]

adjective

1. from which one cannot extricate oneself.

   an inextricable maze.

2. incapable of being disentangled, undone, loosed, or solved.

   an inextricable knot.

3. hopelessly intricate, involved, or perplexing.

   inextricable confusion.

inextricable

/ ˌɪnɛksˈtrɪkəbəl /

adjective

1. not able to be escaped from

   an inextricable dilemma

2. not able to be disentangled, etc

   an inextricable knot

3. extremely involved or intricate

Other Word Forms

• inextricability noun
• inextricableness noun
• inextricably adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of inextricable¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; a late Middle English word, from the Latin word inextrīcābilis; in- ³, extricable

Example Sentences

The film is a clever comment on the inextricable themes of masculinity and motor vehicles, summoning the energy of ’50s car culture and giving it a fearsome, eventually homicidal edge.

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In our culture, money is inextricable from power.

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But for the Iranian director Jafar Panahi the two are unusually inextricable.

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She captured Wednesday’s essence with such biting precision that her performance now feels inextricable from the role.

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The conversation surrounding the film was inextricable from the movie itself; one necessitated the other.

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