inexorable

1 of 2

adjective

in·​ex·​o·​ra·​ble (ˌ)i-ˈnek-sə-rə-bəl 

-ˈneks-rə-, 

-ˈneg-zə-rə- 

: not to be persuaded, moved, or stopped : relentless

inexorable progress

inexorability

(ˌ)i-ˌnek-sə-rə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

-ˌneks-rə-, 

-ˌneg-zə-

noun

inexorableness

(ˌ)i-ˈnek-sə-rə-bəl-nəs 

-ˈneks-rə-, 

-ˈneg-zə-

noun

inexorably

(ˌ)i-ˈnek-sə-rə-blē 

-ˈneks-rə-, 

-ˈneg-zə-rə-

adverb

inexorability

2 of 2

noun

in·​ex·​o·​ra·​bil·​i·​ty (ˌ)iˌneks(ə)rəˈbilətē 

əˌn-, 

-lətē, 

-i also -negz(- sometimes ˌinigˌzōr- or ˌi(ˌ)negˌzōr- or ¦zȯr-

plural -es

: the quality of being inexorable

moral world of humans does not behave with the same rigor and inexorability as the physical world

—Weston La Barre

Did you know?

The Latin antecedent of inexorable is inexorabilis, which is itself a combination of the prefix in-, meaning "not," plus exorabilis, meaning "pliant" or "capable of being moved by entreaty." It's a fitting etymology for inexorable. You can beseech and implore until you're blue in the face, but that won't have any effect on something that's inexorable. Inexorable has been a part of the English language since the 1500s. Originally, it was often applied to people or sometimes to personified things, as in "deaf and inexorable laws." These days, it is usually applied to things, as in "inexorable monotony" or "an inexorable trend." In such cases, it essentially means "unyielding" or "inflexible."

Examples of inexorable in a Sentence

Adjective

the inexorable rise of a political movement

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Despite the tremendous fear of living in a world where Black people are dealing with impoverishment, some of the characters develop an inexorable will to fight anti-Black oppression. — Literary Hub, 27 July 2026

However, this trend is not necessarily an inexorable effect of technological changes in society. — John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2026

What comes between that desire and that reality are the inexorable hazards of life. — Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor, 16 July 2026

Europeans across the entire continent have noted this simple and inexorable cycle for millennia. — Thomas A. Dubois, The Conversation, 17 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin inexorabilis, from in- + exorabilis pliant, from exorare to prevail upon, from ex- + orare to speak — more at oration

Noun

Latin inexorabilitas, from inexorabilis + -itas -ity

First Known Use

Adjective

1542, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

inexorable

adjective

in·​ex·​o·​ra·​ble (ˈ)in-ˈeks-(ə-)rə-bəl 

: relentless

inexorability

(ˌ)in-ˌeks-(ə-)rə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

inexorableness

(ˈ)in-ˈeks-(ə-)rə-bəl-nəs 

noun

inexorably

-blē 

adverb