Synonyms of inflexibility

inflexibility

noun

as in severity

the quality or state of being demanding or unyielding (as in discipline or criticism)

the principal's inflexibility in matters of discipline is the stuff of school legend

Synonyms & Similar Words

• severity
• rigidity
• rigidness
• strictness
• sternness
• stringency
• hardness
• harshness
• rigor
• exactingness
• obduracy
• rigorousness
• implacability
• callousness
• stubbornness
• obstinacy
• gruffness
• resolve
• hard-heartedness
• pitilessness
• steadfastness
• dourness
• determination
• monasticism
• obdurateness
• firmness
• asceticism
• austerity
• austereness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• flexibility
• tolerance
• gentleness
• patience
• tenderness
• softness
• laxness
• willingness
• indulgence
• forbearance
• kindness
• responsiveness
• compliance
• mildness
• lenience
• pliability
• pliancy

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of inflexibility

An impressive defensive coach, he has occasionally been criticized for a certain regular season inflexibility in his rotations and overplaying his best contributors. —Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025

However, the reality is that the inherent inflexibility of immutability is essential to ensuring business resiliency and provides the invaluable peace of mind that comes with knowing data will always be there, ready to be recovered, no matter what. —David Bennett, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025

Structural inflexibility is forcing unnecessary trade-offs. —Katica Roy, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2025