cannot but
phrase
variants
or cannot help but
or less commonly cannot help
: to be unable to do otherwise than
we cannot but wonder why
I cannot help feeling sorry for them.
Cite this Entry
“Cannot but.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cannot%20but. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.
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