inevitable

in·ev·i·ta·ble

adjective \i-ˈne-və-tə-bəl\

Definition of INEVITABLE

: incapable of being avoided or evaded <an inevitable outcome>

— in·ev·i·ta·bil·i·ty \-ˌne-və-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

— in·ev·i·ta·ble·ness \-ˈne-və-tə-bəl-nəs\ noun

Examples of INEVITABLE

1. <getting wet is inevitable if you are going to try to give your dog a bath>
2. The captain of archers fidgeted and coughed and rolled his eyes at his men, as if such cupidity and dishonor were an inevitable but minor aspect of the human predicament … —Michael Chabon, New York Times Magazine, 6 May 2007
3. In a society that has gold-plated everything from hubcaps to teeth, it was perhaps inevitable that someone would find a way to add some bling to bacteria. —Zach Zorich, Discover, February 2006
4. The Vikings disappeared, but the Inuit survived, proving that human survival in Greenland was not impossible and the Vikings' disappearance not inevitable. —Jared M. Diamond, Collapse, 2005

Origin of INEVITABLE

Middle English, from Latin inevitabilis, from in- + evitabilis evitable

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to INEVITABLE

Synonyms

certain, ineluctable, ineludible, inescapable, necessary, sure, unavoidable, unescapable, in the bag, in the cards (also on the cards)

Antonyms

avoidable, evadable, uncertain, unsure

Related Words

decided, definite, settled; likely, possible, probable; destined, fated, foreordained, predestined, predetermined, preordained; inexorable, relentless, unremitting, unstoppable

Near Antonyms

preventable (also preventible); doubtful, dubious, questionable, shaky, unclear; undecided, unsettled; undependable, unreliable; improbable, unlikely