inure

verb

in·​ure i-ˈnu̇r 

-ˈnyu̇r

variants or less commonly enure

i-ˈnu̇r 

-ˈnyu̇r,

e-

inured; inuring

transitive verb

: to accustom to accept something undesirable

children inured to violence

intransitive verb

: to become of advantage

policies that inure to the benefit of employees

inurement

i-ˈnu̇r-mənt 

-ˈnyu̇r

noun

Synonyms

• fortify
• harden
• indurate
• season
• steel
• strengthen
• toughen

Examples of inure in a Sentence

Does violence on television inure children to violence in real life?

the hardship of army training inured her to the rigors of desert warfare

Recent Examples on the Web

By the 1970s, inured in the culture of the moment, progressive reformers were driven to do something in Baltimore and across America that many of their peers would have considered anathema a decade earlier: rein in the authority of the purportedly wise men running powerful institutions. —Marc J. Dunkelman, TIME, 27 Feb. 2025

That this change was so long in the making has inured analysts and policymakers to its gravity. —Sue Mi Terry, Foreign Affairs, 24 Aug. 2021

The original series, in its superb first season, sought new and stark ways to shoot its fight scenes, surprising us but never inuring us to the brutal violence. —Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2025

That success seems to have inured him against the realities of the polls. —Christopher F. Schuetze, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English enuren, from in ure customary, from putten in ure to use, put into practice, partial translation of Anglo-French mettre en ovre, en uevre

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for inure

• abjure
• adjure
• allure
• assure
• brochure
• cocksure
• coiffure
• contour
• couture
• demure
• detour
• endure

Kids Definition

inure

verb

in·​ure in-ˈ(y)u̇(ə)r 

inured; inuring

1

: to make less sensitive : harden

inured to cold

2

: accrue sense 1

Legal Definition

inure

intransitive verb

in·​ure i-ˈnu̇r, -ˈnyu̇r 

inured; inuring

: to become of advantage

—usually used in the phrase inure to the benefit of