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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rigid
incapable of or highly resistant to bending
shoes made of inflexible plastic hurt my feet
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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
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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
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Recent Examples of inflexibility
Shadi Hamid, Time, 3 Nov. 2025
An impressive defensive coach, he has occasionally been criticized for a certain regular season inflexibility in his rotations and overplaying his best contributors.
—Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
Kica Matos, Hartford Courant, 1 Mar. 2026
The technique was inextricably bound to his worldview as a prober and philosopher uncommitted to absolute truth or inflexible morality; in Preminger’s world, there are always myriad perspectives that, if not equally valid, are equally considered.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inflexibility
Noun
But there is also such a thing as being too good, where your own purity takes precedence over all else, leading to inflexibility and inaction.
—Shadi Hamid, Time, 3 Nov. 2025
An impressive defensive coach, he has occasionally been criticized for a certain regular season inflexibility in his rotations and overplaying his best contributors.
—Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
Adjective
For working class voters with inflexible work schedules, limited transportation and scarce childcare, adding a document requirement is not a neutral inconvenience.
—Kica Matos, Hartford Courant, 1 Mar. 2026
The technique was inextricably bound to his worldview as a prober and philosopher uncommitted to absolute truth or inflexible morality; in Preminger’s world, there are always myriad perspectives that, if not equally valid, are equally considered.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inflexibility
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflexibility
Noun
-
Plus as climate change accelerates the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, this gap is becoming one of the most significant and underappreciated risks to global financial stability.—
Nina Seega,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
-
Its severity was rated S1, the second-highest classification.—
Jeremy Hsu,
ArsTechnica,
20 May 2026
Adjective
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Families can also create irrevocable trusts to remove countable assets towards Medicaid qualification, but remember, irrevocable trusts are usually unchangeable.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
9 May 2026
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Policies Vary by Location As generous as Aldi’s approach can be, there are a few places where the rules are solid and unchangeable.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The company uses something called Agent Operating Procedures (AOPs), which let companies define how their AI agents should behave using natural language instead of rigid configurations.—
Ellen Sheng,
CNBC,
19 May 2026
-
Plus, Amazon hasn’t skimped on quality with a largely cotton construction that’s comfortable to wear without feeling scratchy or rigid.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
If strict fidelity gets in the way, it can be treated as immaterial.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
-
Employees who once rejected office culture are now returning to in-person roles, accepting stricter employer demands, delaying entrepreneurial goals, or remaining in emotionally exhausting workplaces because financial risks feel too high.—
Maia Niguel Hoskin,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
David Paul Morris / Bloomberg via Getty Images Are Americans finally starting to feel the strain of soaring gas prices and stubborn inflation?—
Elizabeth Robinson,
NBC news,
19 May 2026
-
Treasury yields have gone up in recent months as stubborn inflation reduces the likelihood of Fed rate cuts, Pisula notes, while geopolitical tensions add more long-term risk to rates.—
Tim Maxwell,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
The Pull-on Jeans deliver the appearance of classic denim with none of the rigidity that usually comes with it.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
14 May 2026
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According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of Huntington's disease can include involuntary jerking or writhing movements, muscle rigidity or contracture, slowed or unusual eye movements, difficulty walking or maintaining balance, and trouble with speech or swallowing.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
13 May 2026
Adjective
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The game’s newest major champion represents a refreshing and unchanging sense of self, bred by memories like those back in Wolverhampton, England.—
Gabby Herzig,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
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Through some creative circuitry, chip-scale EPR reverses this setup—using a simple magnet to create an unchanging field and sweeping through a band of oscillation frequencies.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
These Ewedoos trousers are for anyone who wants to look pulled together without dealing with stiff waistbands or restrictive fabrics.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
24 May 2026
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His most famous early picture, of three rakish young farmers walking to a country dance in new hats, stiff suits, and too-big shoes, couldn’t have been a commission.—
Max Norman,
New Yorker,
21 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inflexibility.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflexibility. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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