inextricable

adjective in·ex·tri·ca·ble \ ˌi-nik-ˈstri-kə-bəl , (ˌ)i-ˈnek-(ˌ)stri- \

Definition of inextricable

1 :forming a maze or tangle from which it is impossible to get free

2 a :incapable of being disentangled or untied

an inextricable knot

b :not capable of being solved

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inextricability

play \ˌi-nik-ˌstri-kə-ˈbi-lə-tē, (ˌ)i-ˌnek-(ˌ)stri-\ noun

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inextricably

play \ˌi-nik-ˈstri-kə-blē, (ˌ)i-ˈnek-(ˌ)stri-\ adverb

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Examples of inextricable in a Sentence

He argues that there is an inextricable link between poverty and poor health.

Recent Examples of inextricable from the Web

On the other, cultural portrayals of anorexia have become inextricable from the disease itself.

— sophie gilbert, The Atlantic, "To the Bone: The Trouble With Anorexia on Film," 14 July 2017
Quickly the Saints and the city of New Orleans forged an inextricable, inexplicable bond.

— ben baskin, The MMQB, "Brawls, Booze and True Believers: The Saints’ Wild First Season," 20 June 2017
Mr. McPherson’s heart-wrenching back story is inextricable from his play, which was made into a 1996 movie starring Meryl Streep and Diane Keaton as estranged sisters reunited by illness.

— laura collins-hughes, New York Times, "‘Marvin’s Room’ Makes Its Broadway Debut with Janeane Garofalo and Lili Taylor," 1 June 2017
But because of his contract, and the inextricable extent to which the Angels have tied their fortunes to his, Pujols cannot merely survive to be considered a success.

— pedro moura, latimes.com, "Hey, hey, hey! Albert Pujols is nearing 600!," 30 May 2017
Gorsuch’s nomination is inextricable from its shameful political context.

— adam davidson, The New Yorker, "Behind Neil Gorsuch’s Non-Answers," 23 Mar. 2017
Sam Kamin, a marijuana law and policy professor at the University of Denver, said the situation illustrates how inextricable marijuana tax revenue has become from Colorado’s economy.

— p. solomon banda, The Denver Post, "Denver FBI honors youth program partly funded by pot taxes," 9 Mar. 2017
The grand political stage and the intimate life are inseparable; identity itself is inextricable from the currents of history.

— richard brody, The New Yorker, "The Frightening Lessons of Philip Roth’s “The Plot Against America”," 1 Feb. 2017
The connection between fish and reefs is inextricable, notes Kittinger.

— National Geographic, "Coral Reefs Doing Better Than Expected in Many Areas," 15 June 2016

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

Origin and Etymology of inextricable

Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin inextricabilis, from in- + extricabilis extricable

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First Known Use: 15th century

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INEXTRICABLE Defined for English Language Learners

inextricable

adjective

Definition of inextricable for English Language Learners

: impossible to separate : closely joined or related

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