as in severity
the quality or state of being demanding or unyielding (as in discipline or criticism)
the principal's inflexibility in matters of discipline is the stuff of school legend
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in unchangeable
not capable of changing or being changed
the inflexible law of gravity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rigid
incapable of or highly resistant to bending
shoes made of inflexible plastic hurt my feet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in strict
not allowing for any exceptions or loosening of standards
inflexible entry rules for the contest ban anyone who works for the company as well as any of their relatives
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in stubborn
sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion
her inflexible father was unmoved by tears and pleading, and he grounded her anyway
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of inflexibility
David Bennett, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Structural inflexibility is forcing unnecessary trade-offs.
—Katica Roy, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2025
Jonathan Thompson, Denver Post, 5 Aug. 2025
Inevitably there will be the school that has strict rules about what students can wear on campus—rules that might feel inflexible and restricting to a kid whose identity is still developing.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 29 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for inflexibility
Noun
However, the reality is that the inherent inflexibility of immutability is essential to ensuring business resiliency and provides the invaluable peace of mind that comes with knowing data will always be there, ready to be recovered, no matter what.
—David Bennett, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Structural inflexibility is forcing unnecessary trade-offs.
—Katica Roy, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Generally, though, utilities such as Xcel Energy, Intermountain Power Agency and Tri-State Generation & Transmission are moving forward with plans to retire their coal plants, namely because the aging facilities are dirty, inefficient, inflexible and, most of all, no longer profitable.
—Jonathan Thompson, Denver Post, 5 Aug. 2025
Inevitably there will be the school that has strict rules about what students can wear on campus—rules that might feel inflexible and restricting to a kid whose identity is still developing.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 29 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for inflexibility
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflexibility
Noun
-
Quick hits Tigers reliever Kyle Finnegan suffered right groin tightness while warming up during Wednesday's game, and the severity of the injury is unclear.—
Christian Romo,
Freep.com,
4 Sep. 2025
-
While the time can vary based on many circumstances such as the type, severity, and location of the bruise, many bruises last for about two weeks.—
Marisa Garshick,
Verywell Health,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Many also treat their beliefs as a core and unchangeable aspect of their personality.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
-
On inauguration day in January, Trump declared through executive order that there are only two sexes, which are determined at conception and are unchangeable.—
Selena Simmons-Duffin,
NPR,
1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The paper identifies further causes of the continent’s growth problem as the EU’s relatively high energy prices, rigid employment regulations, and a general lack of corporate dynamism and entrepreneurship.—
Alden Abbott,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Instead, a single rigid substrate integrates everything in one strong, precise piece.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Without a strict hierarchy or single decision-maker, our process can sometimes be slow, messy, or even tiring.—
Caterina De Biasio,
Vogue,
11 Sep. 2025
-
At too many colleges, leaders have been reluctant to impose strict rules or harsh penalties for chatbot use, passing the buck to professors to come up with their own policies.—
Tyler Austin Harper,
The Atlantic,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Of all the bad-hair-day culprits, matted hair can be the most stubborn and frustrating.—
Grace McCarty,
Glamour,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Spills can be blotted (never rubbed) with a dry cloth since the fabric is non-absorptive, and for more stubborn stains, dry cleaning is recommended.—
Zoë Sessums,
Architectural Digest,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
That — metaphorically and literally — is earned dogmatism, the risk that expertise breeds rigidity in our thinking and decision-making.—
Tim Maurer,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 2025
-
In lagers, for example, the key factor is surface viscoelasticity, or the elasticity and rigidity of the bubble film.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
An unchanging body map could be a huge boost for the emerging field of brain-computer interfaces, which can allow a paralyzed person to speak or move a robotic arm.—
Jon Hamilton,
NPR,
27 Aug. 2025
-
Attackers see these rigid, unchanging patterns as roadmaps.—
Forrester,
Forbes.com,
21 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The company is facing stiff opposition from dozens of California nonprofits, labor unions, and philanthropies as well as investigations from both the California and Delaware attorney generals.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
9 Sep. 2025
-
With the competition stiffer than ever, 26 people dropped off The Forbes 400 this year, including the cofounder and former CEO of Uber Travis Kalanick and wellness products billionaire Frank VanderSloot, both of whom saw their fortunes hold steady while others passed them by.—
Chase Peterson-Withorn,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inflexibility.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflexibility. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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