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
Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 13 Apr. 2025
This could unlock new capabilities in soft robots, which operate more mechanically because they are fitted with inflexible components.
—New Atlas, 23 Mar. 2025
This could unlock new capabilities in soft robots, which operate more mechanically because they are fitted with inflexible components.
—New Atlas, 23 Mar. 2025
Some employers are inflexible about working conditions for working parents even immediately after a disaster.
—Christine Ro, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inflexibility
Adjective
What Maryland public school systems need is not the inflexible conformity demanded by such plans.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 13 Apr. 2025
This could unlock new capabilities in soft robots, which operate more mechanically because they are fitted with inflexible components.
—New Atlas, 23 Mar. 2025
This could unlock new capabilities in soft robots, which operate more mechanically because they are fitted with inflexible components.
—New Atlas, 23 Mar. 2025
Some employers are inflexible about working conditions for working parents even immediately after a disaster.
—Christine Ro, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inflexibility
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflexibility
Noun
-
Recalls are typically classified by severity, and while not all involve immediate danger, they are carried out as a precaution to protect public health.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 May 2025
-
Class 2 obesity: This ranges from 35-39.9, with a moderate risk of severity.—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
15 May 2025
Adjective
-
In his first weeks in office, President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders targeting trans rights, including one stating the U.S. government would recognize only two unchangeable sexes and another barring trans people from military service.—
Brooke Sopelsa,
NBC news,
13 May 2025
-
But these unchangeable circumstances don't stop military spouses from taking charge of their own lives.—
Grace Harrington,
People.com,
9 May 2025
Adjective
-
This man isn’t defined by grand gestures or rigid gender scripts.—
Ximena Araya-Fischel,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2025
-
Having the drawstring attached to something rigid makes this job much easier to manage.—
Maryal Miller Carter,
USA Today,
16 May 2025
Adjective
-
By pinpointing high-privilege users and monitoring data-sharing behaviors, Reco assists CISOs in implementing stricter access controls.—
Maria Williams,
USA Today,
13 May 2025
-
Until May 24, stars attending premieres and other events sprinkled throughout the festival grounds will have to follow the organization's notoriously strict outfit guidelines, which appear to have only gotten tighter.—
Michelle Lee,
People.com,
12 May 2025
Adjective
-
When tragedy strikes on Michigan roads—when a car skids off an icy bend or a semi-truck barrels through a red light—victims are often left to face not only devastating injuries but also a daunting legal maze of corporate denials and stubborn insurers.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
17 May 2025
-
Get The Recipe Smart Move Similar recipes with beans and peas existed before then, but a challenge made to a stubborn chef named Helen Corbitt spurred the creation of Texas caviar.—
Libby Monteith Minor,
Southern Living,
17 May 2025
Noun
-
The establishment’s rigidity is most evident with respect to COVID’s origins.—
Daniel Immerwahr,
New Yorker,
19 May 2025
-
From the rigidity of billable hours to the outdated communication systems and office politics, the system didn’t make sense.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
17 May 2025
Adjective
-
On top of this, REITs can change their investment strategy annually, making the investment journey anything but steady and unchanging.—
Chay Lapin,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
-
The animation in short films up until that point had been silly, vaudeville-inflected; mostly featuring animals because humans were too hard to draw in an appealing way — mostly with static and unchanging expressions, on flat, simplistic backgrounds.—
Constance Grady,
Vox,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Also left behind: the Beaver State’s colder weather and stiff personal income tax.—
William P. Barrett,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2025
-
That caused the committee to reconsider and support the stiffer penalty of expulsion, Goldsmith alleged.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
8 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inflexibility.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflexibility. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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