irreconcilable

1 of 2

adjective

ir·​rec·​on·​cil·​able i-ˌre-kən-ˈsī-lə-bəl 

-ˈre-kən-ˌsī-, 

ˌi(r)-

: impossible to reconcile

irreconcilable differences

irreconcilability

i-ˌre-kən-ˌsī-lə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

irreconcilableness

i-ˌre-kən-ˈsī-lə-bəl-nəs 

-ˈre-kən-ˌsī-

noun

irreconcilably

i-ˌre-kən-ˈsī-lə-blē 

-ˈre-kən-ˌsī-, 

ˌi(r)-

adverb

irreconcilable

2 of 2

noun

: one that is irreconcilable

especially : a member of a group (such as a political party) opposing compromise or collaboration

Examples of irreconcilable in a Sentence

Adjective

theories that are irreconcilable with each other

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

But that claim seemed irreconcilable with the project’s scale within a park that already had such limited open space. —Kim Velsey, Curbed, 4 Mar. 2026

But if Judd’s literalism and Caro’s illusionism represent the extreme and irreconcilable ends of the artistic spectrum during the ’60s and ’70s, Bove’s work integrates and combines these apparent artistic antipodes with a contemporary twist. —Gordon Hughes, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026

How irreconcilable is the clash between maintaining or building middle-class wealth on the one hand, and making housing more affordable to a wide swath of renters and would-be owners on the other? —Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 24 Feb. 2026

In both negotiations, opposing sides appear to have irreconcilable demands. —Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 17 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1587, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1748, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing irreconcilable

• irreconcilable differences

Rhymes for irreconcilable

• reconcilable

Kids Definition

irreconcilable

adjective

ir·​rec·​on·​cil·​able

(ˌ)ir-ˌ(r)ek-ən-ˈsī-lə-bəl, 

(ˈ)ir-ˈ(r)ek-ən-ˌsī-

: impossible to reconcile, adjust, or harmonize

ended the partnership because of irreconcilable differences

irreconcilably

-blē

adverb