inexorable

in·ex·o·ra·ble | \ (ˌ)i-ˈneks-rə-bəl

How to pronounce inexorable (audio)

, -ˈnek-sə-, -ˈneg-zə-rə-

How to pronounce inexorable (audio)

\

Definition of inexorable

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

Other Words from inexorable Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about inexorable

Keep scrolling for more

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 persons, or sometimes to personified things ("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

the inexorable rise of a political movement

Recent Examples on the Web From the ceiling the gods, reclining on gilded couches, gazed down, smiling and inexorable as a summer sky. — James Mcauley, Town & Country, "The Oldest Money: Inside Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa's Sicilian Palazzo," 10 Dec. 2019 For Higdon creates an air of profound spirituality via the work’s textural transparency, slow-but-inexorable forward motion and mystical array of glittering percussive effects. — Howard Reich, chicagotribune.com, "CSO review: A dynamic debut from violinist Ray Chen," 6 Dec. 2019 China’s seemingly inexorable rise requires continued access to America and the fruits of our system of free enterprise and the rule of law. — Marion Smith, National Review, "After 70 Years, Communist China Is Weaker Than It Appears," 30 Sep. 2019 The seemingly inexorable rise of costs has led to deep frustration with U.S. healthcare, prompting questions about whether a system where coverage is tied to a job can survive. — John Tozzibloomberg, Los Angeles Times, "The cost of health insurance for a family hits a record, passing $20,000 a year," 27 Sep. 2019 The seemingly inexorable rise of costs has led to deep frustration with U.S. health care, prompting questions about whether a system where coverage is tied to a job can survive. — John Tozzi, The Denver Post, "Health insurance costs hit a record, surpassing $20,000 annually," 25 Sep. 2019 Dailey’s prospects looked grim; after several rounds of appeals, the inexorable fact of his execution loomed. — Pamela Colloff, ProPublica, "He’s a Liar, a Con Artist and a Snitch. His Testimony Could Soon Send a Man to His Death.," 4 Dec. 2019 The One Major Misconception About it: That the US has begun its inexorable march out of northeast Syria. — Ian Bremmer, Time, "What Happens Next in Syria After Turkey's Invasion," 11 Oct. 2019 Sooner or later, the inexorable ceiling looms: $25 per $1,000 of a municipality’s total property value. — BostonGlobe.com, "Here in Massachusetts, Proposition 2½ is not just the law of the land. It’s become a tradition, maybe almost a religion for some.," 27 Nov. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'inexorable.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about inexorable

Listen to Our Podcast about inexorable

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Dictionary Entries near inexorable

Statistics for inexorable

Last Updated

6 Jan 2020

Cite this Entry

“Inexorable.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inexorable. Accessed 19 January 2020.

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

WORD OF THE DAY

intercalate

to insert between existing elements

Test Your Vocabulary

The Eponym Quiz

Which is the best synonym of bowdlerize?

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.