Definition of inflexiblenext
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Synonym Chooser

How is the word inflexible distinct from other similar adjectives?

The words rigid and stiff are common synonyms of inflexible. While all three words mean "difficult to bend," inflexible stresses lack of suppleness or pliability.

ski boots with inflexible soles

In what contexts can rigid take the place of inflexible?

The words rigid and inflexible are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, rigid applies to something so stiff that it cannot be bent without breaking.

a rigid surfboard

When might stiff be a better fit than inflexible?

The meanings of stiff and inflexible largely overlap; however, stiff may apply to any degree of this condition.

stretching keeps your muscles from becoming stiff

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of inflexible Chili tastes are highly personal, often inflexible and loaded with preconceptions — the political party of culinary offerings. The Know, Denver Post, 24 Jan. 2026 The current power infrastructure in most countries is limited by an aging and inflexible power grid that cannot accommodate the large nodes of power that new AI data centers demand. CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026 Gold’s supply curve is significantly more inflexible than markets assume — and this rigidity is important when demand is driven by structural factors rather than speculation. Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026 Kyle Boddy, the founder of Driveline, the seminal program for velocity training, said a hard-throwing pitcher is not going to manage his velocity on an inflexible pitch count. Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inflexible
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflexible
Adjective
  • Privacy advocates have warned about the risks of identity verification like World’s, as iris scans are unchangeable and could cause all manner of havoc in the wrong hands.
    Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
  • On his first day back in office, Trump signed an executive order proclaiming that the U.S. recognizes only two unchangeable sexes, male and female.
    Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • But some critics argue that restricting access is too rigid and, in the case of Glacier National Park, may invite more people on the road during dangerous twilight hours.
    Outside, Outside, 24 Feb. 2026
  • While rigid denim remains a strong category, brands are growing their assortment of stretch velvet and corduroy.
    Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • For now, the Supreme Court ruling has effectively installed a strict near-term ceiling on trade barriers, substantially neutralizing the threat of runaway tariff escalation.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 23 Feb. 2026
  • Leger Fernández pointed to a strict voter identification bill, known as the SAVE America Act, that Democrats have warned would disenfranchise tens of millions of eligible voters, including women who have changed their last names after getting married.
    Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Here are a few extra tips to get an even deeper clean on your window and door tracks, or how to tackle stubborn mold spots that won't go away.
    Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 24 Feb. 2026
  • From eliminating multi-hour furnace cycles in glass manufacturing to reengineering how poorly soluble drugs dissolve in the body, Leonard Siebert is applying materials science to two of engineering’s most stubborn bottlenecks.
    Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • For people accustomed to the idea that nature was eternal and unchanging, Holmes observes, the idea of extinction was profoundly troubling.
    Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Given the themes of mental illness and its treatments, those who follow meditation may note the allusion to the Blue Sky practice, where thoughts and emotions are seen as passing clouds against the backdrop of a constant, unchanging blue sky that represents the mind.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Between stiff, too-tight pairs digging into my waist with every move and finicky zippers and buttons, finding a trusty pair of jeans can feel daunting.
    Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Feb. 2026
  • Some suspensions are built for smooth comfort, while others may be a bit stiffer to prioritize handling.
    Keenan Thompson, USA Today, 21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Steele learned early how to manage time with precision, often creating music during the narrow windows left between rigorous academic commitments.
    Maria Williams, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
  • Regarding the involvement of former CEOs in institutional decision-making, Molinaroli notes that their practical insights could be tapped more frequently through diverse councils, clear mandates, and rigorous conflict-of-interest safeguards to prevent undue influence.
    Nia Bowers, Ascend Agency, 20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Despite the heartbreaking details surrounding Dane’s death and his disease, Dempsey was adamant about remembering Dane before his ALS diagnosis.
    Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 20 Feb. 2026
  • My dad was clear and adamant that his choice was to stay in Minneapolis.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Inflexible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflexible. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.

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